Study: Many Doctors Fail to Counter NSAID Side Effects

In treating arthritis patients, many physicians are prescribing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without also recommending measures to counter side effects they can cause such as ulcers and bleeding.

Researchers studied 76,765 patients who used NSAIDs to determine the frequency with which doctors recommended strategies aimed at protecting the gastroinestinal system.

A total of 16 percent of the study's subjects received one of the two recommended gastroprotective therapies: 10 percent received traditional NSAIDs along with antiulcer drugs and six percent received a coxib drug.

Among patients with more than two risk factors for ulcer complications (age 75 or older, peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding within the past year, or concurrent use of oral anticoagulants or corticosteroids), 30 percent received gastroprotective therapy.

"Use of recommended strategies to decrease ulcer complications in vulnerable populations is relatively uncommon," concluded the researchers.

Other sources: Arthritis and Rheumatism