Experience of rofecoxib in patients with osteoarthritis previously treated with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Spain: results of phase 2 of the VICOXX study.

Objectives: To compare patient and physician attitudes to osteoarthritis (OA) treatment with rofecoxib or traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs).

Methods: A 6-month prospective study involving 562 OA patients enrolled at 29 Spanish primary-care centres. Patients were continued on established tNSAID therapy for the first 3 months then switched to rofecoxib 12.

Management pattern for patients with osteoarthritis treated with traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in Spain prior to introduction of Coxibs.

Objective: To investigate the use of traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs) in the management of osteoarthritis (OA) in primary care in Spain and to quantify patient and physician satisfaction with tNSAID therapy.

Methods: A 6-month retrospective, observational study conducted in 29 Spanish primary-care centres shortly before the first introduction of selective COX-2 inhibitors (Coxibs).

Results: A total of 897 patients with a mean age 66 +/- 9 years and radiologically documented OA were included: most (76%) were women.