Esomeprazole relieves upper gastrointestinal symptoms in high-risk and average-risk NSAID users in daily clinical...

To investigate whether esomeprazole can provide relief for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients at different gastrointestinal risk.

A multicentre, prospective, open-label study was conducted, wherein NSAID users visiting their general practitioner for upper gastrointestinal symptoms were asked to participate. Patients were treated with 20 mg esomeprazole and treatment effect was evaluated within 8 weeks. Response was defined as a maximum of 1 day per week with gastrointestinal symptoms during the last week of treatment. Partial response was defined as more than 50% improvement in the number of days per week with symptoms compared with baseline. Patients not meeting the above-mentioned criteria were classified as nonresponders. Patients who completely responded were compared with partial responders and nonresponders and were analysed according to their baseline gastrointestinal risk.

A total of 1042 patients (mean age: 57 years; standard deviation: 15; 43% male) were analysed. Complete response, partial response and nonresponse were achieved in 57, 24 and 19% of the patients, respectively. Similar response was seen in average-risk and high-risk patients (58 and 56%; P=0.46) and in nonselective NSAID and selective cyclooxygenase-2 users (57 and 53%; P=0.32).

Esomeprazole (20  mg) improved NSAID-associated upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Baseline gastrointestinal risk did not influence esomeprazole effectiveness.