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Study: Misuse of NSAIDs in European patients with chronic pain may be prevalent
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The inappropriate use of NSAIDs, defined by the Italian Agency of Medicines as use for 21 days or more, for chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions may be prevalent in European patients, according to recently published research.
Researchers studied a database of 3,050 patients with chronic pain who agreed to anonymously participate in a pharmacovigilance surveillance program that followed their purchases of over-the-counter and prescription medications during the course of 18 months. Patients were between the ages of 39 years and 64 years, and 65% were women.
The use of NSAIDs and opioids was calculated as a ratio between the number of patients who received a medication of interest and the total number of patients enrolled in the program. Overexposure was defined as 21 days or more of exposure to NSAIDs.
Of the 3,050 patients with chronic pain, approximately 2,980 took NSAIDs for more than 21 consecutive days during the study period. Mean duration of NSAID exposure was 30.43 consecutive days in women and 30.37 days in men.
According to the researchers, a quarter of patients exposed to NSAIDs for more than 21 days were also receiving antiplatelet drugs as treatment for peptic ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Antiplatelet agents included acetylsalicylic acid (91%), ticlopidine or clopidogrel in 238 patients.
Approximately 2,400 patients (880 men) used opioids at least once during the study period, with 48 patients receiving opioids for more than 90 days consecutively (a mean 158 consecutive days in women, 191 days in men). - by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures
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