The rate of NSAID-induced endoscopic ulcers increases linearly but not exponentially with age: a pooled analysis of 12 randomised trials

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 417 - 418
• Main Authors: Boers, Maarten, Tangelder, Marco J D, van Ingen, Hein, Fort, John G, Goldstein, Jay L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01.03.2007; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Age groups; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-inflammatory agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents; Concise Report; Drugs; Duodenal Ulcer - chemically induced; Duodenal Ulcer - epidemiology; Duodenoscopy; Endoscopy; Female; Gastroscopy; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; NSAID; Older people; Osteoarthritis; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rheumatoid arthritis; Stomach Ulcer - chemically induced; Stomach Ulcer - epidemiology; Ulcers; Non steroidal antiinflammatory agent; Ulcer; Endoscopy; Age
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2006.055012

The risk of major ulcer complications on treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is known to increase exponentially with age. However, in a pooled analysis of 12 trial arms, the incidence of endoscopic ulcers on treatment with NSAID was found to increase with age in a roughly linear fashion. Thus, it is concluded that increasing age is associated with both more frequent and more serious NSAID gastropathy.