Drug treatment modalities in patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the hip or knee

OBJECTIVE: A survey was conducted to determine drug treatments taken by patients with chronic osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee.

METHODS: Data was collected at outpatient clinics at the Royal London and Newham University Hospitals, Bancroft Road, London between November 2001 and February 2003.

RESULTS: Two hundred patients (mean age of 65.8 years, mean OA duration of 4.4 years) completed the survey; 175 with OA of knee and 25 with OA of hip. The majority of patients (64%) required a combination of drug treatments, either prescribed or self-medicated, to manage their disease. Of the total patients, 76% were taking paracetamol, 40% were taking an NSAID and 39% were taking complementary therapy (such as cod liver oil or glucosamine) either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. Of this patients 39% who previously used an NSAID had discontinued, primarily due to side effects, especially those of the gastrointestinal tract.

CONCLUSION: The survey results demonstrate that there is a need to individualize treatment for each patient, which is consistent with published recommendations for the management of OA.