Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use and Death from Peptic Ulcer in Elderly Persons

Abstract

To determine the association between current non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and fatal peptic ulcers or upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. One hundred twenty-two patients had a terminal hospitalization and a peptic ulcer or upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage confirmed by hospital chart review. Population controls (n = 3897) were matched to potential cases by age, sex, race, calendar year, and nursing home status. Patients more frequently filled a prescription for an NSAID within 30 days before onset of illness than controls. This asociation between fatal ulcer disease and current NSAID use was consistent in three age groups, women and men, whites and nonwhites, and community and nursing home dwellers. There was no significant association between case status and previous NSAID use. The findings of this study add to the growing evidence that NSAIDs can increase the risk for clinically serious peptic ulcer disese in the elderly.