Dispensed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Description

This measure shows the percentage of people with identified gout who were dispensed funded non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are often the first line of treatment for acute gout flares and some can be purchased from a pharmacy without a prescription. Although NSAIDs are effective at treating acute gout flares, these medicines have considerable side effects including kidney injury and peptic ulcer disease.

Measure set

Gout domain

Notes about this measure set

Note that the NSAID dispensing may not necessarily be related to gout symptoms.

Numerator

People with identified gout aged 20 years and over dispensed a publicly funded non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Denominator

Those aged 20 years and over identified with gout using the HealthTracker method (see gout prevalence numerator definition).

Denominator detail

NSAIDs included were: diclofenac sodium, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, naproxen, naproxen sodium, tenoxicam, celecoxib and sulindac.
This measure only includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug dispensed at community pharmacies, ie, not medicines given in hospital or purchased over the counter.
Only those enrolled with a PHO in each year were included.

Denominator exclusions