The present invention relates to the use of cardiac hormones, particularly natriuretic peptides, for diagnosing the cardiovascular risk of a patient who is a candidate for adminitstration of a cox-2-inhibiting compound, in particular an NSAID, selective cox-2 inhibitior, or steroid. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of cardiac hormones, particularly natriuretic peptides, for diagnosing the cardiovascular risk of a patient who is a candidate for administration of a selective cox-2 inhibitor, comprising the steps of (a) measuring, preferably in vitro, the level of a cardiac hormone, (b) diagnosing the risk of the patient by comparing the measured level to known levels associated with different grades of risk in a patient. The most preferred cardiac hormone in the context of the present invention is NT-proBNP. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing the risk of a patient to suffer from a cardiovascular complication as a consequence of administration of a cox-2 inhibiting compound, comprising the steps of (a) measuring the level of a cardiac hormone, (b) diagnosing the risk of the patient by comparing the measured level to known levels associated with different grades of risk in a patient.