Purpose

This study aimed to assess the safety risks associated with using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in elderly patients (≥65 years) compared with younger patients (<65 years) with osteoarthritis (OA) and/or chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on anonymized claims data of patients prescribed NSAIDs for OA and/or CLBP from 2009 to 2018 using hospital-based administrative database—Medical Data Vision (MDV). The key outcome was the incidence of developing gastrointestinal (GI), renal, and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that are well-known events associated with NSAID use.

Results

Of 288,715 patients included, 23.7%, 60.5%, and 15.8% had OA, CLBP, or both, respectively. Elderly patients used non-oral NSAIDs more frequently than oral NSAIDs (57.8% and 38.7%, respectively), whereas younger patients showed comparable use (50.7% and 52.8%, respectively). The incidence of events per 10,000 person-years (95% CI) was higher in the elderly than in younger patients: GI, 29.68(27.67–31.68) vs. 16.61(14.60–18.63); renal, 124.77(120.56–128.99) vs. 39.88(36.72–43.03); and AMI, 27.41(25.48–29.35) vs. 10.90(9.27–12.53), respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the increase in risk for these events was seen in patients >70 years compared with younger patients (18–30 years) and was remarkable in patients >80 years with 2-fold, 10-fold, and 7-fold higher risk for developing GI, renal, and AMI events, respectively.

Conclusion

Risk for developing NSAID-associated events was higher in the elderly; particularly, renal and AMI events that remarkably increased in patients >80 years. To reduce them, NSAIDs should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible.

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