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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and potential risks in a convenience sample of general practitioners
Christopher Cutts1, Adam LaCaze
1Queensland Rural Medical Support Agency. christopher@qrmsa.com.au
Background:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. They remain widely prescribed.
Aim:
To describe current prescribing of non-COX-2 inhibitor NSAIDs.
Methods:
Audit of a convenience sample of general practitioners. Individual and group results were fed back to individual GPs.
Results:
Seventy-one GPs submitted 790 patients records. A wide range of NSAIDs was used. NSAIDs with a higher risk of gastrointestinal side effects were used in 30% of patients over 70 years. The most common risk factors for their use were age, cardiovascular disease and concomitant ACE inhibitor prescribing. Over 85% of participating doctors stated that feedback of these data would change their future use of NSAIDs.
Conclusion:
Patients are often exposed to the potential risks of NSAIDs.