Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in postmenopausal women with an inflammatory phenotype of osteoarthritis

Abstract

Introduction. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are currently the mainstay of the management for relieving pain syndrome in osteoarthritis (OA). NSAIDs are characterized by an individual reaction to medication, as well as a quite high frequency of gastrointestinal side effects. The issue of the disadvantages and advantages of a particular group of NSAIDs is still open.Aim. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Meloxicam at a dose of 15 mg/day as compared with Nimesulide and placebo in postmenopausal women with an inflammatory phenotype of OA.Results and discussion. The frequency of all adverse events was comparable among the group of patients receiving meloxicam (40.0%), and lower than in the nimesulide group (48.0%), but higher than in the placebo group. A decrease in pain syndrome was observed as early as at 2 weeks of treatment in the group of patients receiving meloxicam. A significant decrease in WOMAC scores (overall result, pain syndrome, stiffness, function) was observed in the group of patients receiving meloxicam, and in the group of patients receiving nimesulide, after 3 weeks of treatment. meloxicam and nimesulide demonstrated high efficacy at 3 weeks compared with the initial VAS scores. The placebo group showed no efficacy.Conclusion. The frequency of all adverse events was lower while taking meloxicam as compared to nimesulide. Our results substantiate the concept to prescribe meloxicam at a dose 15 mg once daily for the treatment of pain and stiffness in post-menopausal women with OA.