Analgesic prescribing in patients with inflammatory arthritis in England: observational studies in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink
Authors' conclusion
IA analgesic prescribing of all classes is widespread.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with inflammatory arthritis (RA, PsA, axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA)) in England, CPRD Aurum, 2004–2020
- Outcome
- Annual prevalence of analgesic prescription
Methodological detailsClinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, joinpoint regression, Cox proportional hazards models
- Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum
- Joinpoint regression
- Cox proportional hazards models
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Analgesic prescription prevalence in inflammatory arthritis (IA)
2004 prevalence, /100 person-years (PY)
84.2
95% CI 83.9, 84.5
2020 prevalence, /100 PY
64.5
95% CI 64.2, 64.8
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
NSAID prescription prevalence, 2004 (most prescribed; falling over time)
- /100 PY
- 56.1 (95% CI 55.8, 56.5)
Opioid prescription prevalence, 2020 (most prescribed)
- /100 PY
- 39.0
- 95% CI
- 38.7, 39.2
Gabapentinoid prescription prevalence (increased)
- 2004, /100 PY
- 1.1 (95% CI 1.0, 1.2)
- 2020, /100 PY
- 9.9 (95% CI 9.7, 10.0)
Chronic opioid prescription prevalence (most opioid prescriptions chronic) · 2020
- /100 PY
- 23.4 (95% CI 23.2, 23.6)
Prescribing by subgroup
- Non-NSAID analgesic prescribing commoner in RA, older people, females and deprived areas/northern England
- NSAID prescribing commoner in axSpA/males, varying little by deprivation/geography
Prognostic factors for chronic prescriptions
- Peri-diagnosis high-risk for starting chronic opioid/NSAID prescriptions
- NSAIDs no consistently significant association with deprivation (unlike opioids/gabapentinoids)
Original publication
Analgesic prescribing in patients with inflammatory arthritis in England: observational studies in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 7 September 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →