Results of an open multicenter non-interventional study of clinical efficacy and tolerability of etoricoxib in osteoarthritis and nonspecific back pain with additional evaluation of the effect of the drug on the «central» manifestations of pain

The formation of chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a multifactorial process, in its pathogenesis mechanism of central sensitization (CS) plays an important role.

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of etoricoxib at a dose of 60 mg per day in diseases accompanied by moderate/severe chronic MPS, with an additional analysis of the effect of this drug on the manifestations of CS.

Patients and methods. An open observational study, 790 patients (71.6% women, mean age 54.5±13.0 years) with osteoarthritis and chronic nonspecific back pain received etoricoxib 60 mg/day for 2 weeks. The dynamics of pain, dysfunction, fatigue, sleep disturbances, general health assessment (GHA) on a numerical rating scale (NRS 0–10), as well as signs of CS according to part A of the CSI questionnaire were assessed.

Results and discussion. After 2 weeks, the intensity of pain during movement, at rest and at night decreased on average by 58.8±24.1, 69.7±32.6 and 70.1±32.8% respectively; functional insufficiency by 58.2±22.5%, fatigue by 52.2±25.8%, GHA by 50.0±22.6%, sleep improvement by 54.3±25.8% was observed (p<0.001 for all parameters). There was a decrease in the CSI value by an average of 33.1±14.5% (p<0.001), as well as a decrease in the number of patients with highly probable CS (CSI ≥40) from 35.3 to 10.3% (p<0.001). No serious drug-related complications were recorded. The overall frequency of adverse reactions was 5.9%, with dyspepsia and hypertension being the most common.

Conclusion. Etoricoxib is an effective and relatively safe treatment for chronic MSP. It reduces the severity of CS, one of the central mechanisms of the pathogenesis of chronic MSP.

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