title: Utilization patterns of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors among patients with arthritis in a managed care setting.
abstract: When anti-inflammatory/analgesic agents are not well tolerated, patients with arthritis may be prescribed a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor. Since these patients often require daily treatment and COX-2 inhibitors are more expensive than nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, it is important to assess their patterns of use. In this retrospective study, rofecoxib and celecoxib were compared, in a managed care population with arthritis, in terms of average daily medication consumption and cost. Celecoxib was found to be significantly more costly than rofecoxib, and certain factors, such as the treating physician's specialty, correlated with prescribing patterns. Given the high prevalence of arthritic conditions, these results suggest that the selection of a COX-2 inhibitor may substantially affect health care costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Outcomes Research & Management, Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA. Kathleen_Foley@merck.com
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Suna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barlas
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hinnethal
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Phong T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Duong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors