[Adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A prevalence study in Austria].
OBJECTIVE
Gastrointestinal side effects are the limiting factor in the prescription of non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs (NSAID). However, there are no recent data from Austria. The aim of this prevalence study was therefore to assess the gastrointestinal risk from NSAID in Austria.


METHODS
A total of 1347 patients were observed in an outpatient setting between March 2000 and February 2001. Side effects from NSAID were documented by questionnaire at two time points with a mean interval of 31 days. Documented data were analysed descriptively using an explorative strategy. The prevalence of side effects was compared to data from literature.


RESULTS
Side effects were reported by 18.1% of the patients, severe gastro-intestinal complications (ulcer, bleeding, perforation) were diagnosed in 0.7%. Prescription of effective GI-protection (proton pump inhibitors, misoprostole, famotidin in high dose) was seen in only one third of the patients at risk.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of severe gastrointestinal side effects by NSAIDs assessed in our study was clearly lower than the prevalence reported in the Anglo-American literature. This may be due to a different prescription behaviour: about 75% of the patients took Diclofenac, lbuprofen or Meloxicam, drugs which have a very low potential of gastrointestinal complications. However, more information for general practitioners is needed yet to sufficiently protect patients at gastrointestinal risk from NSAID.
Kolarz
Gernot
G
Institut für Rheumatologie der Kurstadt Baden in Kooperation mit der Donau-Universität Krems, Baden, Osterreich.
Mayrhofer
Franz
F
Neumann
Kurt
K
Singer
Franz
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001317:Austria; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors