The effect of hip replacement on prescribing of NSAIDs, ulcer healing drugs and hospitalization - A matched cohort study

Purpose - To assess the impact of total hip replacement on prescribing of n on-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ulcer healing drugs (UHDs) an d hospitalization. Methods - Observational matched cohort study. Results - There were 282 subjects in the hip replacement cohort and 1691 in the comparator cohort. Dispensing of NSAIDs fell from 89% to 57% after hip replacement but increased from 36% to 39% in comparators. Dispensing of UH Ds fell from 33% to 30% after hip replacement but increased from 16% to 23% in the comparators. Hospitalization for upper gastrointestinal events fell from 2.5% to 1.8% after hip replacement but increased from 1.4% to 1.7% in comparators. Hospitalization for other causes increased from 32% to 42% af ter hip replacement compared with 25% to 28% in comparators. Conclusions - Hip replacement is associated with reduced prescribing of NSA IDs and UHDs, However, any effect on GI admissions will be small compared w ith increased hospitalization for other causes, Copyright (C) 1999 John Wil ey & Sons, Ltd.