J Pak Med Assoc. 2025 Aug;75(8):1218-1223. doi: 10.47391/JPMA.20611.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To analyse prescribing patterns of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor for low-back pain patients with cardiovascular comorbidities in American outpatient settings.
METHODS: The data of this retrospective, cross-sectional study were from the 2007-2019 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey except 2017 for which data were not available. Data related to low-back pain patients of either gender aged ≥20 years. Those having cardiovascular comorbidities were placed in group A, while those without such comorbidities were placed in group B. Descriptive statistics were employed to evaluate visit characteristics, stratified by cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor use. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilised to assess factors associated with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor prescriptions. Data was analysed using R 4.1.2.
RESULTS: Of the 242.65 million patients with 107.19(44.2%) females, 76.83 million (31.7%) were in group A and 165.82 million (68.3%) in group B. Compared to group B patients, those in group A were older (62.0±14.1years vs 49.7±16.1 years, p<0.01) and had a higher prevalence of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor use (p=0.01). Overall, 5.2 million (2.14%) patients were prescribed cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. Those using cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor exhibited a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities (p=0.01), especially hypertension (p=0.01), and were older in age (p<0.01). Older age (odds ratio = 1.019, 95% confidence interval: 1.003-1.035; p<0.05) and higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities (odds ratio = 1.638, 95% CI: 1.017-2.637; p<0.05) were associated with increased likelihood of receiving cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor prescriptions.
CONCLUSIONS: Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor use was positively correlated with age and cardiovascular comorbidities among low-back pain patients in American ambulatory care, suggesting potential contradiction to current medication guidelines and heightened risk of adverse cardiovascular events.
PMID:40851131 | DOI:10.47391/JPMA.20611
