Prescription of nonselective NSAIDs, coxibs and gastroprotective agents in the era of rofecoxib withdrawal - a 617,400-patient study

摘要

BackgroundGastroprotective strategies are recommended for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users at risk of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) complications.AimTo compare the use of gastroprotective strategies in NSAID users in three countries, and the subsequent impact of rofecoxib withdrawal.MethodsWe conducted a population-based cohort study in three general practice (GP) databases: (i) United Kingdom's (UK) GP Research Database (1998–2008); (ii) Italy's (IT) Health Search/CSD Longitudinal Patient Database (2000–2007); and (iii) the Dutch (NL) Integrated Primary Care Information database (1996–2006). Study cohorts comprised incident NSAID users ≥50 years. Preventive strategies included: (i) co-prescription of gastroprotective agents; or (ii) cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitor use. Under-use was defined as no gastroprotection in patients with ≥1 UGI risk factor (history of UGI event, age ≥65 years, concomitant use of anticoagulants, antiplatelets or glucocorticoids). Interrupted time-series analysis was performed to assess the impact of rofecoxib withdrawal on preventive strategies.ResultsThe study populations consisted of 384 649 UK, 177 747 IT and 55 004 NL NSAID users. In UK, under-use of preventive strategies fell from 91% to 71% [linear trend (lt) P = 0.001], in NL from 92% to 58% (lt P < 0.001) and in IT from 90% to 76% (lt P = 0.38) in high-risk NSAID users. In 2000 and 2006, under-use was significantly lower in NL compared with UK and IT (P < 0.001) in high-risk users. After rofecoxib's withdrawal, under-use increased significantly in UK and NL.ConclusionsThe prescription of gastropreventive strategies followed a similar pattern across countries. Despite a temporary negative effect of rofecoxib withdrawal on under-use, improvement of gastroprotection with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was observed.