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Appleyard, T, Ashworth, J, Bedson, J, Yu, D and Peat, G (2019) Trends in gabapentinoid prescribing in patients with osteoarthritis: a United Kingdom national cohort study in primary care. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 27 (10). pp. 1437-1444. ISSN 1522-9653
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Abstract
Summary Objective
To investigate trends in gabapentinoid prescribing in patients with osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods
Patients aged 40 years and over with a new OA diagnosis recorded between 1995 and 2015 were identified in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and followed to first prescription of gabapentin or pregabalin, or other censoring event. We estimated the crude and age-standardised annual incidence rates of gabapentinoid prescribing, stratified by patient age, sex, geographical region, and time since OA diagnosis, and the proportion of prescriptions attributable to OA, or to other conditions representing licensed and unlicensed indications for a gabapentinoid prescription.
Results
Of 383,680 newly diagnosed OA cases, 35,031 were prescribed at least one gabapentinoid. Irrespective of indication, the annual age-standardised incidence rate of first gabapentinoid prescriptions rose from 1.6 (95% CI: 1.3, 2.0) per 1,000 person-years in 2000, to 27.6 (26.7, 28.4) in 2015, a trend seen across all ages and not explained by length of follow-up. Rates were higher among women, younger patients, and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the North of England. Approximately 9% of first prescriptions could be attributed to OA, a further 13% to comorbid licensed or unlicensed indications.
Conclusion
Gabapentinoid prescribing in patients with OA increased dramatically between 1995 and 2015. In most cases, diagnostic codes for licensed or unlicensed indications were absent. Gabapentinoid prescribing may be attributable to OA in a significant proportion but evidence for their effectiveness in OA is lacking. Further research to investigate clinical decision making around prescribing these expensive and potentially harmful medicines is recommended.
Item Type: | Article |
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Additional Information: | This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Elsevier at http://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2019.06.008 - please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher. |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Epidemiology; Gabapentin; Gabapentinoid; Osteoarthritis; Pregabalin. |
Subjects: | R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC925 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system |
Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Primary Care Health Sciences |
Depositing User: | Symplectic |
Date Deposited: | 03 Jul 2019 11:36 |
Last Modified: | 22 Mar 2021 16:17 |
URI: | https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/6558 |