A new method for estimating rare adverse events has been used to calculate the risks associated with the long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Pain 2000:85;169).
The method combined data from 38 studies giving data on 250,000 patients. The analysis predicted that, on average, one in 1,220 patients taking oral NSAIDs for at least two months will die from serious gastrointestinal bleeds and other complications caused by these drugs. This is said to equate to 2,000 deaths per year in the UK.
The estimate of risk from NSAIDs in this report is similar to that found in a study undertaken in 1997, say the researchers.
The earlier retrospective case-control study estimated that there were approximately 2,500 deaths each year in the UK resulting from ulcer complications in people taking NSAIDs (Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1997:11;283).
Commenting on the findings, Dr Andrew Moore (senior research fellow, University of Oxford and a co-author of the new study) said on March 14: "Our study adds to the growing weight of evidence suggesting that chronic NSAID use presents a high risk of minor and major harm and death."