Patterns of prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and gastroprotective agents.

Peptic ulcer complications constitute the most important undesirable side effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID). The object of this study was to use the coprescription of a non-aspirin NSAID (NANSAID) and misoprostol or another antiulcer agent (AUA) as an endpoint to estimate the difference in the toxicity of ibuprofen compared to other available NANSAID. We also compared demographic characteristics of these 2 groups of patients. The study was done on the Quebec Health Insurance Board (RAMQ) database. The patients treated with ibuprofen are perceived by their physicians as having a lower need for AUA than those treated with other NANSAID. However, since patients treated with ibuprofen are younger, have fewer comedications, a lower frequency of medical visits, a lower frequency of arthritis, and a more occasional pattern of use, their lesser need for AUA might be due to a channelling of low risk patients toward this drug.