Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and gastroprotective agents before the advent of cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors: analysis of a large United States claims database.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that 20% to 40% of patients requiring nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are concomitantly prescribed gastroprotective agents (GPAs) such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2-receptor antagonists.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine NSAID prescription patterns and the concurrent use of GPAs in a large national sample of patients who were prescribed NSAIDs for the first time.


METHODS
Patterns of NSAID use, particularly chronic NSAID use, and of concomitant use of GPAs were examined using a large US-based prescription database. Patients with at least 1 NSAID prescription dispensed between May 1 and August 31, 1998, were identified. Persons with any NSAID prescription within 4 months prior to the first (index) prescription were excluded. The remaining patients were defined as new NSAID users and then classified as chronic users (> or = 30 days of supply of NSAIDs during the 120 days of follow-up after the first NSAID prescription) or acute users (<30 days of NSAID supply during the 120 days of follow-up). Concomitant GPA use was defined as receipt of any GPA prescription between the fill date of NSAID prescription and 125% of days of supply. NSAIDs included diclofenac/misoprostol (in a fixed combination), diclofenac, naproxen, nabumetone, ibuprofen, and "other" (comprising several less frequently prescribed agents). Patients were classified as users of a particular NSAID based on the first NSAID prescription they received. GPAs included PPIs, H2-receptor antagonists, and misoprostol.


RESULTS
A total of 3,028,808 new NSAID users were identified. Chronic NSAID users (47.8% of the sample) were older than acute users. The percentage of new chronic users aged > or = 65 years for each of the NSAIDs was 41.2% for diclofenac/ misoprostol, 33.0% for nabumetone, 30.8% for diclofenac, 20.4% for naproxen, and 20.3% for ibuprofen. The percentage of women was higher among patients treated with diclofenac/misoprostol than among patients treated with all other NSAIDs (P < 0.001). During the 120 days of follow-up, the percentages of NSAID users with concomitant GPA use were 22.7% for diclofenac/misoprostol, 16.3% for diclofenac, 11.5% for naproxen, 18.0% for nabumetone, 12.3% for ibuprofen, and 14.8% for other NSAIDs. Based on days of supply, the rates of concomitant GPA use were 31.1%, 23.6%, 17.6%, 27.3%, 18.8%, and 22.5% for diclofenac/misoprostol, diclofenac, naproxen, nabumetone, ibuprofen, and other NSAID users, respectively. Among those who were taking GPAs before the NSAID index prescription date, -89% continued GPA therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 22% of the days of NSAID supply were covered by GPAs. Prior GPA use was the strongest predictor of subsequent concomitant GPA/ NSAID use. Differences in GPA use were observed among patients using different NSAIDs.
Schnitzer
T J
TJ
Office of Clinical Research and Training, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Kong
S X
SX
Mavros
P P
PP
Straus
W L
WL
Watson
D J
DJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents