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Adverse Events Associated with Rofecoxib Therapy

Results of a Large Study in Community-Derived Osteoarthritic Patients

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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the safety profile of rofecoxib, a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, in patients with osteoarthritis who are receiving care in non-hospital practice settings.

Design: All patients participating in a large 24-week, open-label, non-pharmacological intervention trial were given rofecoxib for painful osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. They started at a dose of 12.5mg once daily for the first month, with the option of increasing to 25mg daily thereafter, if needed for efficacy. Adverse events were closely monitored. We considered all adverse events that occurred during treatment and within 14 days of discontinuation of rofecoxib.

Patient Group Studied: 2896 patients (861 males and 2035 females) were involved in the safety analysis. Their mean (SD) age was 66.8 (9.9) years, and 631 patients (21.8%) were aged ≥75 years. There were 913 patients (31.5%) with hypertension and 151 (5.2%) with diabetes mellitus at the start of the study; 78 patients (2.7%) had a prior medical history of angina and/or myocardial infarction. The mean (SD) duration of rofecoxib treatment was 139 (62) days.

Results: A total of 519 patients (17.9%) discontinued rofecoxib. The main reasons for discontinuation were dyspepsia (4.4%), nausea (2.4%) and dizziness (2.1%). The annualised incidence rates (95% CI) of complicated and uncomplicated upper gastrointestinal ulcers, myocardial infarction, and stroke were 1.36 (0.76–2.23), 0.09 (0–0.50) and 0.45 (0.16–1.05), respectively.

Conclusion: This study conducted in conditions close to daily practice confirms that the use of rofecoxib is associated with a low rate of serious adverse events in patients with osteoarthritis.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Merck Sharp & Dohme-Chibret, Paris, France. The authors thank all French rheumatologists who participated as investigators in this study, and Dr Jean-Sylvain Larguier for his contribution to the analysis of the data.

Professor Bannwarth, Dr Rolland, Professor Ravaud and Professor Dougados have received research support, grants, honoraria and/or consultancy fees from Merck Sharp & Dohme-Chibret, France. No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin and Division of Therapeutics, Université Victor Segalen, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    Bernard Bannwarth

  2. Department of Rheumatology and Therapeutics, Hôpital Dupuytren, Limoges, France

    Richard Trèves

  3. Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital L’Archet, Nice, France

    Liana Euller-Ziegler

  4. Department of Rheumatology, Centre Hospitalier Général, Bourges, France

    Denis Rolland

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France

    Philippe Ravaud

  6. Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France

    Maxime Dougados

Authors
  1. Bernard Bannwarth
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  2. Richard Trèves
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  3. Liana Euller-Ziegler
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  4. Denis Rolland
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  5. Philippe Ravaud
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  6. Maxime Dougados
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Correspondence to Bernard Bannwarth.

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Bannwarth, B., Trèves, R., Euller-Ziegler, L. et al. Adverse Events Associated with Rofecoxib Therapy. Drug-Safety 26, 49–54 (2003). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200326010-00005

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