Prospective study on assessment of efficacy of etoricoxib versus etoricoxib with combination of glucosamine and chondroitin in primary osteoarthritis of knee

Abstract

In the elderly, one of the most common joint diseases is osteoarthritis (OA). Established risk factors include obesity, increasing age, female sex, knee joint injury and meniscectomy. NSAIDS including selective COX -2 inhibitors have come to play an important role in the pharmacologic management of arthritis and pain. Etoricoxib has been found to be less harmful to the gastrointestinal, renovascular and cardiovascular system. Materials and Methods: Demographic data was collected in detail from all the patients. The site and severity of pain was assessed using the Lequesne Index. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group -GROUP -A was treated with Etoricoxib [90 mg OD for 14 days] and the second group -GROUP -B was treated with Etoricoxib [14 day] and combination of glucosamine and chondroitin [1 month]. The severity of the pain was noted from all the patients before treatment, during 1 st follow up after 1 month, and the 2 nd follow up after 2 months. Results: No patient in both A and B group were in the extremely severe category, while 80% in group A and 60% in Group B were in the moderate to severe category. 20% in Group A and 40% in Group B were in the mild to moderate category after 4 weeks of treatment. After 8 weeks of treatment, 10% in group A and 5% in group B were in the moderate to severe category and 55% in Group A and 28% in Group B were in the mild to moderate category while 35% in Group A and 67% in Group B were under satisfactory joint function category. Conclusion: Etoricoxib 90 mg OD for 3 weeks plus combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for 4 weeks is more effective when compared to Etoricoxib as single therapy.