title: Quality of life assessment during six months of NSAID treatment [Gonarthrosis and Quality of Life (GOAL) Study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the time point of the greatest degree of improvement in daily living activities, pain and depression in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee during 6 months of treatment with NSAIDs, in order to define compliance and drop-out rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  107 patients were recruited into a multicentre, prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing two treatments, piroxicam-beta-cyclodextrin (PBCD) and slow release diclofenac (DCL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The greatest improvement in quality of life occurred in both groups after 3 months, with a slight further gain observed by the end of treatment. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire score improved (p < 0.05 vs baseline) at 3 and 6 months with PBCD and at 6 months with DCL. The Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale score improved (p < 0.05 vs baseline) after 6 months in both groups. Significant (p < 0.05 vs baseline) improvement in other psychological and pain scores were recorded in both groups after 3 and 6 months. Compliance with treatment at 3 months was 73% for PBCD and 72% for DCL, and was 60% in both groups at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that the optimal length of time for an NSAID trial in OA patients is 3 months, when assessment of daily living activities is considered as the main outcome criterion.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica, Divisione di Medicina Generale e Reumatologia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Montagna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tirri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cacace
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perpignano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Covelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pipitone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magarò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraccioli
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mascia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manzini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcolongo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paresce
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011788:Quality of Life; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D004338:Drug Combinations; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; D010894:Piroxicam; D004008:Diclofenac; C061072:piroxicam-beta-cyclodextrin