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  • Title: [Adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A prevalence study in Austria].
    Author: Kolarz G, Mayrhofer F, Neumann K, Singer F.
    Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr; 2003 Jan 31; 115(1-2):41-6. PubMed ID: 12658910.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Gastrointestinal side effects are the limiting factor in the prescription of non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs (NSAID). However, there are no recent data from Austria. The aim of this prevalence study was therefore to assess the gastrointestinal risk from NSAID in Austria. METHODS: A total of 1347 patients were observed in an outpatient setting between March 2000 and February 2001. Side effects from NSAID were documented by questionnaire at two time points with a mean interval of 31 days. Documented data were analysed descriptively using an explorative strategy. The prevalence of side effects was compared to data from literature. RESULTS: Side effects were reported by 18.1% of the patients, severe gastro-intestinal complications (ulcer, bleeding, perforation) were diagnosed in 0.7%. Prescription of effective GI-protection (proton pump inhibitors, misoprostole, famotidin in high dose) was seen in only one third of the patients at risk. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of severe gastrointestinal side effects by NSAIDs assessed in our study was clearly lower than the prevalence reported in the Anglo-American literature. This may be due to a different prescription behaviour: about 75% of the patients took Diclofenac, lbuprofen or Meloxicam, drugs which have a very low potential of gastrointestinal complications. However, more information for general practitioners is needed yet to sufficiently protect patients at gastrointestinal risk from NSAID.
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