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Reduced NSAID use seen in knee OA patients taking specific glucosamine type
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Patients with knee osteoarthritis who supplemented with crystalline glucosamine sulfate used fewer NSAIDs than patients who supplemented with glucosamine hydrochloride and other supplements, according to the results of a recently published analysis.
Researchers studied data from 6,451 patients with osteoarthritis who were enrolled in the Pharmaco-Epidemiology of GonArthroSis (PEGASus) study that examined the use of symptomatic slow-acting drugs in osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs) and the frequency of NSAID use. Patients had a mean age of 66 years and a mean BMI of 28. Almost half of patients had osteoarthritis (OA) in multiple joints, with an average pain score of 5.6 (on a zero to 10 scale). In addition, 65% had severe disability based on the Lequesne index. Overall, 63% of patients in the study were women.
The study evaluated oral crystalline glucosamine sulfate in a formulation of sachets of powder for oral solution dosed as 1,500 mg glucosamine sulfate (Osaflexan in France, Dona or Viartril-S or other trademarks by the Rottapharm group) and other SYSADOAs including the following: two tables of glucosamine hydrochloride, each corresponding to 625 mg glucosamine taken once daily; chondroitin sulfate 400 mg sachets or capsules taken three times daily; diacerein 50 mg capsules taken twice daily; and avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) 300 mg capsules taken once daily.Investigators found 315 patients supplemented with crystalline glucosamine sulfate, 6,136 patients received other SYSADOAs and 1,376 patients received no SYSADOAs. Patient data were analyzed based on 2-month time units of exposure to supplementation with crystalline glucosamine sulfate which corresponded to 481 2-month time units.
Incident use of NSAIDs occurred in 23.8% of the control cohort compared with 18.7% of the patients who received crystalline glucosamine sulfate which represented a 36% lower overall risk. Patients who received crystalline glucosamine sulfate for more than 4 months had a decrease in risk of 48% and had a 16.2% incident use of NSAIDs. Primary analysis of patients in the PEGASus cohort showed supplementation with glucosamine hydrate, chondroitin sulfate, ASU or diacerein were not associated with a reduction in use of NSAIDs. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure s : The researchers report the PEGASus study was funded by the pharmaceutical companies marketing SYSADOAs in France, and that the study was conducted and analyzed by an independent research organization under the supervision of an independent scientific committee. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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