The use and safety profile of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs among Turkish patients with osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the use and safety profile of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among Turkish osteoarthritis patients.


METHODS
Osteoarthritis patients were interviewed by 138 doctors from clinics in nine different cities. Doctors completed a questionnaire regarding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use and safety profile while interviewing the patients.


RESULTS
Totally 3,755 patients (female/male: 3/1, mean age 59.0 +/- 12.2 years), 3,442 under non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treatment, were included in the study. The use of meloxicam (5.5% vs. 14.4%) and specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors (for celecoxib 3.3% vs. 12.2%; for rofecoxib 3.0% vs. 11.2%) increased more than that of other non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The most common side effects were epigastric burning (37%), other dyspeptic symptoms (25.3%), abdominal pain (17.0%), constipation (12.7%), nausea (10.6%) and diarrhea (3.0%). COX-2 selective and specific inhibitors had significantly lower incidence of dyspeptic complaints compared to non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. No difference was found between the different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs regarding the ratio of discontinuation of therapy due to inefficacy. The ratios of discontinuation due to side effects were lower in patients using COX-2 specific inhibitors compared to non-selective and selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: celecoxib (7.7%), rofecoxib (10.3%), etodolac (12.4%), meloxicam (12.6%), tenoxicam (16.5%), diclofenac (16.8%), ibuprofen (19.4%), and naproxen (27.4%). Discontinuation of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs due to dyspeptic complaint was significantly less for specific COX-2 inhibitors than for non-selective and selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: celecoxib (2.5%), rofecoxib (8.4%), meloxicam (9.5%), etodolac (13.4%), tenoxicam (14.0%), diclofenac (14.1%), ibuprofen (17.2%), and naproxen (24.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of meloxicam and specific COX-2 inhibitors seems to have increased more than that of other non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, if previously used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are considered. Fewer dyspeptic complaints have been reported with specific COX-2 inhibitors.
Yilmaz
Hürriyet
H
70th Year Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. hurriyety@superonline.com
Gürel
Selim
S
Ozdemir
Oktay
O
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors