Treatment outcomes of a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)-guided pharmacological pain management strategy in symptomatic knee and hip osteoarthritis in daily clinical practice.

Abstract

Adequate use of paracetamol and switching to a NSAID after failing paracetamol resulted in moderate treatment response percentages, whereas the result of a second NSAID was disappointing in patients with advanced knee and hip OA. Predictors for response included patient and disease related factors. A substantial part of patients with NRS >4 were unwilling to change their analgesics.