Impact of New NSAIDs on Prescription Patterns
Author Information
Author(s): Garry R. Barton, Anthony J. Avery, David K. Whynes
Primary Institution: University of Nottingham
Hypothesis
Can the increase in NSAID expenditure be attributed to the substitution of older NSAIDs with newer selective COX-2 inhibitors?
Conclusion
The introduction of celecoxib and rofecoxib led to a decrease in prescriptions for older NSAIDs, but overall NSAID prescriptions increased, suggesting leakage to unintended populations.
Supporting Evidence
- NSAID expenditure rose by 57% over five years, reaching £247 million in 2004.
- Total prescription volumes for selective COX-2 inhibitors were negatively correlated with older NSAIDs.
- Overall NSAID prescriptions increased by 0.76 million items per quarter from 1999 to 2004.
Takeaway
Doctors started giving new painkillers to more people, even those who didn't need them, while older painkillers were used less.
Methodology
Quarterly prescription data from January 1999 to September 2004 was analyzed to compare prescribing volumes and expenditures of NSAIDs.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors affecting prescription volume were not controlled for.
Limitations
The study only looked at prescription items, not the number of patients, and did not account for dosage variations.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on NSAID prescriptions in England, but specific demographics of patients were not detailed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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