Less use of NSAIDs in long-term than in recent chondroitin sulphate users in osteoarthritis: a pharmacy-based observational study in France.
In clinical trials, long-term use of a specific chondroitin sulphate, Chondrosult 400 (CS400) has demonstrated symptomatic efficacy in osteoarthritis comparable to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with significantly fewer side-effects. CS400 could therefore reduce the use of and risks associated with NSAIDs. A cross-sectional observational study was therefore devised in 199 randomly selected pharmacies in France to verify the concomitant use of analgesic and NSAIDs medication in patients prescribed CS400. Consecutive patients filling a prescription for CS400 were prospectively recruited and classified into recent users (3 months or less of continuous use) and long-term users (more than 3 months of continuous use) of CS400. The main outcome measure was current and long-term use of analgesics and NSAIDs. The 844 participating patients included 623 (73.8%) women and 221 (26.2%) men. Mean age was 65.9 years. Ninety eight (11.6%) patients did not use any analgesic or NSAIDs for osteoarthritis: 746 (88.4%) reported the use of at least one of these drugs. Compared to recent users, long-term users of CS400 had a significantly lower current (44.4 versus 52.5%, p < 0.05) and long-term use of NSAIDs (11.8% versus 18.5%, p < 0.05), and of analgesics (70.3 versus 79.3%, p < 0.01).
Lagnaoui
Rajaa
R
Université Victor Segalen, Département de Pharmacologie, INSERM U657, Bordeaux, France.
Baumevielle
Marie
M
Bégaud
Bernard
B
Pouyanne
Pierre
P
Maurice
Gwenaëlle
G
Depont
Fanny
F
Moore
Nicholas
N
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010594:Pharmacies
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates