Does flare trial design affect the effect size of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in symptomatic osteoarthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Smith, Toby O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1673-2954, Zuo, Kun, Abdullah, Natasya, Chen, Xi, Kingsbury, Sarah R., Doherty, Michael, Zhang, Weiya and Conaghan, Philip G. (2016) Does flare trial design affect the effect size of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in symptomatic osteoarthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 75 (11). pp. 1971-1978. ISSN 0003-4967

Preview

PDF (Accepted manuscript) - Accepted Version Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Objectives: It is thought that the clinical trial benefits of oral non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may relate to flare designs. The aim of this study was to examine the difference in NSAID (including COX-2 inhibitors) response in osteoarthritis (OA) trials based on different designs.  Methods: Systematic review was undertaken of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL and the Cochrane library to February 2015. Randomised controlled trials assessing pain, function and/or stiffness following commencement of NSAIDs in flare and non-flare designs were eligible. Trials were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Meta-analyses were conducted to assess the effect sizes of NSAIDs for OA with flare versus non-flare trial designs.   Results: Fifty-seven studies including 33,263 participants assessing 26 NSAIDs were included. Twenty-two (39%) were flare design, 24 (42%) were non-flare designs, 11 (19%) were possible flare designs. On meta-analysis, there was no statistically significant difference in effect size of NSAIDs versus placebo between flare and non-flare trial designs for absolute pain and function or stiffness at immediate (1 week), short (2 to 4 week) or longer (12 to 13 week) follow-up periods (p>0.05). However there was a lower effect size for mean change in pain in flare and possible flare trials compared to non-flare trials at short-term follow-up (0.36 versus 0.69; p=0.05).   Conclusions: Contrary to previous understanding, flare trial designs do not result in an increased treatment effect for NSAIDs in people with OA compared to non-flare design. Whether flare design influences other outcomes such as joint effusion remains unknown.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	randomised controlled trial,nsaids,osteoarthritis,effect size,methodology
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Rehabilitation Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2016 09:24
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2023 01:37
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/57747
DOI:	10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-208823

Downloads

Actions (login required)

View Item