Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use in Chronic Arthritis Pain: Variations by Ethnicity.

OBJECTIVES: Determine if there are ethnic differences in the use of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and if observed ethnic differences persist after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical factors METHODS: Knee/hip osteoarthritis study participants were identified. Surveys were administered to collect sociodemographics, clinical information, and oral treatment methods for arthritis. Multivariable logistic regression models were created using a fully conditional method.

RESULTS: Hispanics (n=130), compared to non-Hispanic Whites (n=204), were less likely to have a high school education (26.9% vs. 63.2%, p<0.001), less likely to have private medical insurance (p<0.001), and more likely to have worse health (p=0.004). OTC oral NSAID use was less common (52.9% vs. 66.3%, p=0.019) while prescription oral NSAID use was more common (43.4% vs. 31.7%, p=0.042) among Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites in the last 6 months. The ethnic difference in using an OTC NSAID instead of not using any oral NSAID was attenuated and no longer significant when adjusted for age, sex, education, and medical insurance (OR 0.54 [95% CI: 0.28-1.02]). The odds of using a prescription instead of an OTC NSAID remained significantly higher among Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites when adjusted for the same variables (OR 2.17 [95% CI: 1.16-4.05]).

CONCLUSIONS: Among osteoarthritis patients, OTC NSAIDs were less commonly used but prescription NSAIDs were more commonly used by Hispanics than non-Hispanic Whites. Sociodemographic factors partially mediate ethnic differences in the use of oral NSAIDs.