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Identification of NSAID Users at Risk for Gastrointestinal Complications

A Systematic Review of Current Guidelines and Consensus Agreements

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Abstract

NSAIDs are among the most often used drugs worldwide. Numerous NSAID users are at risk for developing gastrointestinal complications. The purpose of this review was to identify and stratify risk factors for gastrointestinal complications in NSAID users documented in guidelines and consensus agreements, and to collect recommendations regarding over-the-counter (OTC) NSAID use. To facilitate this, a PubMed search from 1 January 1999 until 1 March 2009 was performed, resulting in the inclusion of nine English-language guidelines in our analysis. Risk factors were defined as ‘definite’ if mentioned in all guidelines; otherwise they were defined as ‘controversial’ risk factors.

‘Definite’ risk factors were a history of (complicated) peptic ulcer disease, older age (cut-off range 60–75 years), concomitant anticoagulant or corticosteroid use and multiple NSAID use, including low-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). ‘Controversial’ risk factors were high-dose NSAID use, concomitant clopidogrel or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use, a history of gastrointestinal symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis disability and cardiovascular disease. Infection with Helicobacter pylori was identified as an additive risk factor. Risk factors in OTC NSAID users were difficult to identify in the current literature.

Risk factors were not all uniformly present in analysed guidelines and consensus agreements. We identified a history of (complicated) peptic ulcer disease, older age, concomitant anticoagulant or corticosteroid use and multiple NSAID use, including low-dose aspirin, as definite gastrointestinal risk factors in NSAID users.

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Acknowledgements

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. Martijn van Oijen has served as a consultant and received unrestricted research grants from Nycomed and AstraZeneca. Merel Tielemans, Ties Eikendal and Jan Jansen have no conflicts of interest to declare that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500, HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands

    Merel M. Tielemans, Ties Eikendal, Jan B. M. J. Jansen &  Martijn G. H. van Oijen

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  1. Merel M. Tielemans
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Correspondence to Martijn G. H. van Oijen.

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Tielemans, M.M., Eikendal, T., Jansen, J.B.M.J. et al. Identification of NSAID Users at Risk for Gastrointestinal Complications. Drug-Safety 33, 443–453 (2010). https://doi.org/10.2165/11534590-000000000-00000

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