FREQUENT USE OF PRESCRIPTION NSAIDS AND OPIOIDS AMONG PEOPLE WITH KNEE OR HIP OSTEOARTHRITIS DESPITE CONTRAINDICATIONS TO OR PRECAUTIONS WITH NSAIDS

Abstract

Purpose: Oral NSAIDs are recommended for OA management. However, many patients with OA have contraindications to NSAIDs or have comorbidities that warrant precaution. Because few other oral therapies are available, such patients may still receive NSAIDs or may instead receive opioids, which are not recommended and have numerous concerning adverse effects. They may also receive physical therapy (PT), an effective option, as a safe alternative. We evaluated differences in the patterns of NSAID, opioid, and PT use among persons with newly diagnosed knee or hip OA with and without NSAID contraindications or precautions using population-based Swedish register data.