Economic evaluation of nimesulide versus diclofenac in the treatment of osteoarthritis in Greece.

Objective: To evaluate, from a social security system perspective, the economic consequences of treating rheumatic diseases with nimesulide or diclofenac.

Design: Cost-minimisation analysis was used to estimate the incremental direct medical cost and the cost of gastrointestinal adverse events for 15 days' treatment with nimesulide compared with diclofenac. Cumulative incidence of adverse events was calculated through meta-analysis of the results of double-blind randomised clinical trials.