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The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — including nonselective (ns) NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs), and low-dose aspirin (LDA) — is limited by upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Would combining NSAIDs with other drugs increase the risk for UGIB?
To find out, investigators identified nearly 115,000 patients from seven population-based databases and conducted a retrospective, case-series analysis using the patients as their own controls. The researchers determined drug exposure from prescription data, compared the incidence rate ratio (IRR) during periods of drug use versus nonuse, and determined excess risk from concomitant drug therapy.
Results were as follows:
Monotherapy with nsNSAIDs increased the IRR for UGIB mor…