Gender differences in NSAID use among older adults with osteoarthritis.
BACKGROUND
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Little is known about whether there are important gender differences in NSAID use among patients with OA.


OBJECTIVE
To examine gender differences in patterns of NSAID use among older adults (>or=65 y) with OA.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 11298) were members of a statewide prescription drug plan who responded to a health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) survey in 1997 and had a physician diagnosis of OA. Gender differences in patterns of NSAID use were examined over a 2-year period.


RESULTS
Approximately one-third of the participants filled at least 1 NSAID prescription during the study. Women were significantly more likely to be prescribed an NSAID than men (37% vs. 30%), had a greater total days' supply of NSAIDs, and were more frequently prescribed NSAIDs with greater degrees of cyclooxygenase-2 selectivity. These gender differences persisted in statistical analyses controlling for demographic factors, HRQOL, and gastrointestinal (GI) risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study showed significant gender differences in patterns of NSAID use, and these differences were independent of the risk for GI adverse effects and self-reported symptoms. Further research is needed to examine reasons for these gender variations, as well as their impact on the quality of symptom management.
Dominick
Kelli L
KL
Health Services Research and Development, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705-3897, USA. domin004@mc.duke.edu
Ahern
Frank M
FM
Gold
Carol H
CH
Heller
Debra A
DA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012737:Sex Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal