Valdecoxib is associated with improved dyspepsia-related health compared with nonspecific NSAIDs in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Dyspepsia and related gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are commonly reported by patients taking nonspecific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and significantly impact treatment effectiveness, cost, and quality of life. This study sought to evaluate dyspepsia-related health in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking valdecoxib compared with patients taking nonspecific NSAIDs.

Methods: Analysis of two separate, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies: one in RA patients randomized to placebo, valdecoxib (10 and 20 mg once daily [o.d.]) and naproxen (500 mg twice daily [b.i.d.]); one in OA patients randomized to placebo, valdecoxib (10 and 20 mg o.d.), diclofenac (75 mg b.i.d.), or ibuprofen (800 mg three times daily [t.i.d.]). Study population comprised patients with RA in flare or clinically documented OA who required chronic symptomatic treatment with NSAIDs/analgesics. Dyspepsia-related health was evaluated at baseline and weeks 2, 6, and 12 (or early termination) using the validated Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment (SODA) questionnaire. This patient self-report tool consists of scales for evaluating dyspepsia pain intensity, nonpain symptoms, and satisfaction. Analysis was based on the intent-to-treat population with the last observation carried forward.

Results: Valdecoxib was significantly better at endpoint than standard doses of naproxen, diclofenac, and ibuprofen for pain intensity scores (p < 0.05), and provided significantly improved nonpain symptom and satisfaction scores compared with naproxen for patients with RA (p < 0.05). For RA patients, the difference between valdecoxib and naproxen pain intensity scores were clinically meaningful; at all the time points, significantly fewer patients receiving valdecoxib reported severe dyspepsia pain intensity increases (>/=10 points) than those receiving naproxen. At 12 wk, fewer patients receiving valdecoxib reported severe dyspepsia pain intensity increases versus those receiving ibuprofen and diclofenac.

Conclusions: The GI tolerability of valdecoxib is superior to that of nonspecific NSAIDs, and therefore can potentially have a favorable impact on patient quality of life.