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Association of Meloxicam Use with the Risk of Acute Pancreatitis: A Case–Control Study

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Abstract

Background and Objective

No sufficient research has focused on the relationship between meloxicam use and acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to explore this issue in Taiwan.

Methods

This case–control study was conducted using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. In all, there were 6780 cases aged 20–84 years who were newly diagnosed with acute pancreatitis during the period 1998–2011, and 21,393 control subjects without acute pancreatitis. Cases and controls were matched for sex, age and comorbidities. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were measured to explore the associations between acute pancreatitis, meloxicam use and comorbidities, using a multivariable unconditional logistic regression model.

Results

After controlling for potential confounding factors, the adjusted OR for acute pancreatitis was 1.76 (95 % CI 1.30–2.40) for subjects with current use of meloxicam, in comparison with subjects who had never used meloxicam. The adjusted OR decreased to 1.29 (95 % CI 0.82–2.03) for subjects with late use of meloxicam, but without statistical significance.

Conclusions

Current use of meloxicam is associated with increased odds of acute pancreatitis. Clinicians should consider the potential risk of acute pancreatitis when prescribing meloxicam.

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Specific Author Contributions

Shih-Wei Lai substantially contributed to the conception of the article. He planned and conducted this study, initiated the draft of the article and critically revised the article.

Cheng-Li Lin conducted the data analysis and critically revised the article.

Kuan-Fu Liao planned and conducted this study, participated in the data interpretation and critically revised the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Shih-Wei Lai & Cheng-Li Lin

  2. Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Shih-Wei Lai

  3. Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Cheng-Li Lin

  4. College of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City, Taiwan

    Kuan-Fu Liao

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi General Hospital, No. 66, Sec. 1, Fongsing Road, Tanzi District, Taichung City, 427, Taiwan

    Kuan-Fu Liao

  6. Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan

    Kuan-Fu Liao

Authors
  1. Shih-Wei Lai
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  2. Cheng-Li Lin
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  3. Kuan-Fu Liao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kuan-Fu Liao.

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Funding

This study was supported in part by the Taiwan Ministry of Health and the Welfare Clinical Trial and Research Center of Excellence (Grant No. MOHW104-TDU-B-212-113002), China Medical University Hospital, Academia Sinica Taiwan Biobank, Stroke Biosignature Project (Grant No. BM104010092), NRPB Stroke Clinical Trial Consortium (Grant No. MOST 103-2325-B-039-006), Tseng-Lien Lin Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan, Taiwan Brain Disease Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan, and Katsuzo and Kiyo Aoshima Memorial Funds in Japan. These funding agencies did not influence the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors disclose no conflicts of interest.

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Lai, SW., Lin, CL. & Liao, KF. Association of Meloxicam Use with the Risk of Acute Pancreatitis: A Case–Control Study. Clin Drug Investig 35, 653–657 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40261-015-0326-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40261-015-0326-2

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