[Prescribing non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and gastrointestinal protection in primary care]

To assess whether prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is adequate for gastrointestinal protection associated with NSAID use.

Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Primary Care Centre in La Mina, Barcelona, Spain.

A random sample of 500 patients, stratified by doctor was selected from a total of 4504 patients with an NSAID prescription.

The dependent variables were the adequacy of NSAID prescription and gastrointestinal protection. The independent variables were: age, sex, concomitant treatments, type and number of NSAIDs. The variables were collected from the clinical history.

The 476 patients included with an NSAID prescription had a mean age of 47.9 (18.1) years, and 63.4% were women. The NSAIDs most prescribed were, ibuprofen (60.3%), diclofenac (23.1%), and naproxen (4.0%). The most common reason for prescribing the NSAID was locomotor system pathology; 45.4%. The prescription was adequate in 44.7% (95% CI, 40.2-49.3), and inadequate in 23.5% (95% CI, 19.8-27.6). It was inadequate in 49.5% of patients over 65 years, while in under 65 year-olds 16.5% were inadequate. Gastrointestinal protection was inadequate in 28.2% (95% CI, 22.7-35.7); 12.8% excessive and 16% insufficient. In the multivariate analysis, the inadequacy probability of NSAIDs is 5.45 times greater in patients of 65 or more years than in younger patients.

NSAID prescribing and gastrointestinal protection can be considered to be inadequate in 25% of patients. Advanced age is a major risk factor in inadequate prescribing.