Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Misuse among Newly Diagnosed and Resurged Peptic Ulcer Patients in Maiduguri-City, Nigeria

Background: Many patients are often unaware of the risks posed by indiscriminate use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in aggravating peptic ulcer disease (PUD) related discomfort or delaying its healing.

Aim: The objectives of the study are to investigate the extent of NSAIDs consumption among newly diagnosed and resurged ulcer cases, identify the various types and forms of NSAIDs commonly misuse as well as evaluate their possible potentials risks in patients with fresh and resurged ulcer pains.

Methods: NSAIDs use were assessed through prospective study in 237 patients (114 males and 123 females) using questionnaire. All patients were assessed for NSAIDs consumption, duration of use, types of NSAIDs, their combinations and ulcerogenic potentials.

Results: The proportions of NSAIDs users were 0.52 (n=123; 95% CI=0.46-0.58) comprising 45.6% (proportion=0.47, 95% CI= 0.41-0.53) and 55.1% (proportion= 0.55; 95% CI= 0.49-0.61) of new and resurged PUD respectively. There was no gender variation in NSAIDs consumption in the two groups. However, NSAIDs use was higher in female below 30 years than men though this trend was reversed in those above 50 years. Also, 43.0% (n=104) used NSAIDs containing single agents while 8.0% (n=19) used combinations of NSAIDs. Misused NSAIDs in their various formulated oral dosage forms are ibuprofen (19.0%), piroxicam (3.4%), diclofenac (14.8%), naproxen (1.11%), acetylsalicylic acid (3.0%), and ketoprofen (1.3%). The duration of NSAID used ranged below 1year (8.9%) to >10years (1.9%) with the result being skewed toward low frequency of higher duration in year.

Conclusion: Several PUD patients were using NSAIDs indiscriminately and lacking the knowledge of their ulcerogenic potentials. This underscores the need for patients’ drug therapy care, education and counseling, and monitoring in order to limit hospitalization or physician visits, morbidity or mortality and drug therapy problems while adherence with therapeutic guiding principles for NSAIDs use in PUD patients is to be encouraged.