RESUMO
A nationwide survey was undertaken among 74,192 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 5986 physicians (including 5265 general practitioners [GPs]) in Belgium to evaluate satisfaction with the selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor rofecoxib (12.5 or 25 mg, given once a day for an average of 30 days). Rofecoxib was considered by patients to be a very effective treatment for OA, with satisfaction scores of good or very good in the domains of pain, mobility and general satisfaction. More than 80% of GP-treated patients expressed a wish to continue rofecoxib therapy. Preference for rofecoxib was especially strong in patients (n = 45,453) who had previously been treated with conventional non-steroldal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), notably patients who had used diclofenac, ibuprofen and nimesulide. Physicians also expressed high satisfaction with rofecoxib, with more than 80% of surveyed physicians indicating a wish to continue prescribing the drug. The results of this large survey demonstrate a clear preference for rofecoxib over conventional NSAIDs in a substantial majority of OA patients. The satisfactory pain relief and excellent gastrointestinal safety profile of rofecoxib demonstrated in earlier controlled trials are likely to have been factors in patients' preferences for rofecoxib over NSAIDs.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios não Esteroides/uso terapêutico , Inibidores de Ciclo-Oxigenase/uso terapêutico , Lactonas/uso terapêutico , Osteoartrite/tratamento farmacológico , Satisfação do Paciente , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Análise de Variância , Bélgica , Feminino , Pesquisas sobre Atenção à Saúde , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sulfonas , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The clinical manifestations of rheumatic diseases have been studied in a population of 440 HLA-B27-positive patients. Fifty-eight per cent had peripheral joint involvement. After statistical analysis and clustering of characteristics, three patterns of peripheral joint involvement were found. They were referred to as the X, Y and Z type for mnemotechnical reasons. The X type includes male patients with sacroiliitis, spondylitis, uveitis and uni- or bilateral arthritis of hip and/or shoulder. Y type patients present sacroiliitis, pauci-articular asymmetrical joint involvement and tendinitis. Z type patients are characterized by sacroiliitis, polyarticular symmetrical joint involvement and a positive IgM rheumatoid factor. This classification enables a new approach to the pathology, diagnosis and therapy of the seronegative spondyloarthropathies.
