Use of cyclo‐oxygenase 2 inhibitors (COX‐2) and prescription non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in UK and USA populations. Implications for COX‐2 cardiovascular profile

Abstract

Our results confirm some previous findings from other authors such as the presence of both GI and CV channelling to COX-2 agents but refute others, such as the frequency of drug switching between these agents. The typical use of COX-2 agents in practice is for shorter duration, and at lower doses, than was employed in randomized clinical trials. This difference may help clarify the apparent discrepancy with respect to CV toxicity between the results from clinical trials, which showed a higher CV risk with these drugs, and non-experimental epidemiologic studies, which showed lower or no increase in risk.