Abstract
To the Editor:
Dr Geba and colleagues reported that rofecoxib, 25 mg/d, was superior to celecoxib, 200 mg/d, and acetaminophen, 4000 mg/d, in treating osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. We lack important information for supporting this conclusion.
First, it is known that patients are more likely to comply with once-daily regimens and that morning doses are less likely to be omitted. The report of the trial implied that the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors and their placebos were taken once daily, in the morning, while acetaminophen and its placebo were taken 4 times daily. Therefore, it is likely that suboptimal compliance had a large impact on the effect of acetaminophen. It would be helpful to the reader for the authors to report the compliance for the different groups, and to perform a subanalysis for efficacy in highly compliant patients.
Dr Geba and colleagues reported that rofecoxib, 25 mg/d, was superior to celecoxib, 200 mg/d, and acetaminophen, 4000 mg/d, in treating osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. We lack important information for supporting this conclusion.
First, it is known that patients are more likely to comply with once-daily regimens and that morning doses are less likely to be omitted. The report of the trial implied that the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors and their placebos were taken once daily, in the morning, while acetaminophen and its placebo were taken 4 times daily. Therefore, it is likely that suboptimal compliance had a large impact on the effect of acetaminophen. It would be helpful to the reader for the authors to report the compliance for the different groups, and to perform a subanalysis for efficacy in highly compliant patients.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1799-1800 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Medical Association |
| Volume | 287 |
| Issue number | 14 |
| DOIs |
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| Publication status | Published - 10 Apr 2002 |