Prevalence of NSAID use among Alberta seniors in 2002–2003

Purpose To describe the prevalence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, including COX-2 inhibitors, among patients 65 years of age or older in Alberta, Canada. Methods Records of all patients 65 and older who were prescribed NSAIDs were extracted from the 2002 to 2003 Alberta Blue Cross (ABC) administrative database, which included Drug Identification Number (DIN), prescribed drug quantity, patientʹs gender and birth date. Age–gender distribution of 2002 mid-year Alberta population was extracted from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) registry file. Drug unit prices were obtained from the 2003 Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List. Age- and gender-specific prevalence rates and costs of the overall NSAID and COX-2 uses were calculated with these data. Results A total of 87,153 seniors were prescribed NSAIDs. Of these, 59,502 were prescribed at least one type of COX-2 (33,579 celecoxib; 30,060 rofecoxib). Crude prevalence of overall NSAID and COX-2 uses were 27.0% and 18.5%, respectively. Annual costs for the overall NSAIDs and COX-2 were C$17.3 × 106 and C$14.5 × 106, respectively. Women used NSAIDs more than men (1.49 times in number and 1.76 in cost). Women aged 75 to 79 had the highest prevalence of NSAID use (31.4%). Among men the highest prevalence was in the 70 to 74 age category (25.8%). Restricted to COX-2, the highest prevalence in the 75 to 79 age category was 23.1% for women and 16.5% for men. Conclusion Pain is a common symptom among people aged 65 and over. NSAIDs are general therapies for symptomatic pain. The use of NSAIDs is clearly increasing in the aging population. In 2002 to 2003, more than one fourth of Alberta seniors used NSAIDs, which is higher than previously reported.