Article date: April 2007
By: Cara Usher, Kathleen Bennett, Mary Teeling, John Feely, in Volume 63, Issue 4, pages 494-497
What is already known about this subject
• Public concern regarding the cardiovascular safety of the COX‐2 inhibitors began with the withdrawal of rofecoxib from the market in September 2004.
What this study adds
• Results from this study indicate that the profile of new users of NSAIDs and COX‐2 inhibitors did not change despite new information becoming available.
Aims
To characterize patients initiated on nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), pre and postrofecoxib withdrawal, by age, gender and concomitant cardiovascular (CV) therapy.
Methods
A national primary care prescription database was used to identify patients who initiated NSAID therapy pre and postrofecoxib withdrawal. Patients receiving CV therapy were identified in the same periods also. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals are presented.
Results
Female patients [OR = 1.15 (1.11, 1.19)], those over 65 years [OR = 2.76 (2.65, 2.86)] and those at CV risk [OR = 1.72 (1.67, 1.79)] were more likely to start on celecoxib (over a nonselective NSAID) than male patients, those under 65 years and those not at CV risk. Similar results were found for rofecoxib and nimesulide. Postwithdrawal analysis showed results comparable to the prewithdrawal period.
Conclusion
The results highlight a possible uncertainty experienced by prescribers of treatment alternatives available and a lack of unbiased information at this time for at‐risk groups.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02784.x
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