Frequency of use of acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin in US women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of use of the three main classes of over-the-counter analgesics: acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin in two large US female cohorts.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study of the frequency of analgesic use and the characteristics of users in female participants in the Nurses Health Study I (n = 86,985) and the Nurses Health Study II (n = 93,002) who were between the ages of 33 and 77 years. Information on frequency of current analgesic use was assessed by mailed questionnaire.


RESULTS
All three classes of analgesics were used frequently. For example, acetaminophen was used > or = 1 day/week by more than 20% of women. NSAIDs were used > or = 1 day/week by 42% of women aged 51 years or younger, and aspirin was used > or = 6 days/week by 25% women over age 51 years. The frequency of use of the individual analgesics varied by age (p < 0.001). In addition, women in the highest category of use of any of the analgesics tended to have a higher body mass index, were more likely to have hypertension and diabetes, and were more likely to be current smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Analgesic use is very common among US women. Physicians should be cognizant of the frequency of use of the various over-the-counter analgesics in their female patient population.
Curhan
Gary C
GC
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Womens' Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Boston, MA, USA. Gary.Curhan@channing.harvard.edu
Bullock
Andrea J
AJ
Hankinson
Susan E
SE
Willett
Walter C
WC
Speizer
Frank E
FE
Stampfer
Meir J
MJ
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen; D001241:Aspirin