Prevalence of risk factors for complications associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in patients with osteoarthritis: an observational study

Autores: Fernando Molina Restrepo, Álvaro Vallejos Narváez, Eleni Paredes Blandon, Gloria Esperanza Castro Osman, Andrés David Díaz Portilla

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Introduction: osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent condition whose pharmacological management frequently includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which present significant risks.

Objectives: to determine the prevalence of patients with risk factors for complications associated with the use of NSAIDs drugs, in patients diagnosed with OA.

Materials and methods: an observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted in 258 patients with OA (ACR criteria), aged ≥38 years.

Results: it was identified that 81.7% of patients presented at least one risk factor for complications associated with the use of NSAIDs. The risk factors for gastrointestinal complications were the most frequent (64.7%), followed by cardiovascular (60.4%) and renal (8.9%).

Conclusions: a high prevalence of risk factors is evident, which underscores the need for an individualized prescribing approach to minimize adverse events and optimize treatment safety in this vulnerable population.