Patient characteristics associated with prescribing of a newly introduced drug: the case of rofecoxib.
OBJECTIVE
To identify socio-demographic characteristics of the first patients receiving a new drug--rofecoxib.


METHODS
Patients starting on rofecoxib or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and who had not received any NSAIDs the 90 days prior to starting.


RESULTS
Starting on rofecoxib was associated with an increasing age (OR in age 80 years and older 8.7; 95% CI 6.7-11.2), a poor self-perceived health (OR=2.4; 95% CI 1.8-3.3), female gender (OR=1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.6), private insurance (OR=1.3; 1.1-1.5) and previous acetaminophen use (OR=1.3; 1.1-1.7).


CONCLUSIONS
This study noted that specific patient characteristics were associated with getting rofecoxib prescribed shortly after marketing. General practitioners should be aware of selectively prescribing new drugs to specific patients because it may place patients at unintentional and avoidable risk.
Florentinus
Stefan R
SR
Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 80082, 3508 TB, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Nielsen
Merete W
MW
van Dijk
Liset
L
Leufkens
Hubert G M
HG
Hansen
Ebba Holme
EH
Heerdink
Eibert R
ER
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007783:Lactones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib