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Abstract Number: 263

Nutraceutical Products and Pain or Non-Pain Medications Use in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Mei Chung1, John B. Wong2, Shaoyu Chang3 and Chenchen Wang4, 1Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 2Medicine/Clinical Decision Making, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, 3Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, 4Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA

Meeting: 2014 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: dietary supplements, Knee, medication, osteoarthritis and pain

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Session Information

Title: Pain: Basic and Clinical Aspects

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) causes substantial health burden and economic costs including medications and neutraceuticals for pain. The aim of this analysis was to describe contemporary use of medications and nutraceutical products in patients with knee OA.

Methods: Knee OA patients meeting ACR criteria for enrollment into a randomized clinical trial reported their use of prescription and over-the-counter medications and nutraceutical products during the prior 6 months using the HAQ health utilization form. We analyzed the number of pain medications, non-pain medications, and nutraceutical products taken by each patient and WOMAC questionnaire measures of pain and physical function. The T-test, Fisher’s exact test and multivariable ordered logistic regression were used to assess statistical differences between groups and associations. All p-values were two tailed, and results were reported as mean±standard deviation.

Results: In 204 knee OA patients (mean age 60.2 years, 70% female, mean WOMAC pain 254±95 and WOMAC function 899±352), 157 (77%), 166 (81%), 150 (74%) reported taking at least one pain, non-pain medication, or nutraceutical (7% glucosamine), respectively (Table 1). On average, each patient used 1.2±0.9 pain medications, 2.8±2.5 non-pain medication, and 2.4±2.3 nutraceutical products. Nutraceutical product use was higher in Whites (3.0±2.4) than in Blacks (1.8±2.0) or Asians (1.7±2.0). Patients using nutraceuticals were significantly older (+3.9, P=0.02) than those who did not without any significant differences by gender. Similarly patients who using non-pain medications were older than those who did not (+3.7 years, P=0.05. In contrast, pain medication users were significantly younger (-4.4 years, P=0.01) than those did not, and more women used pain medications than men (81% vs. 67%, P=0.05). WOMAC pain and function scores were significantly lower in nutraceutical users than in non-users (pain: 241±97 vs. 291±96, P=0.001; function: 859±357 vs. 1011±316, P=0.006). After controlling for age and sex, a higher number of nutraceuticals was associated with an improved WOMAC pain (P=0.05) and function (P=0.03) scores, but the number of pain and non-pain medications were not significantly associated WOMAC pain or function.

Conclusion: Nutraceutical and pain-medication use in OA patients is quite common and much higher in our patient population than in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (Arthritis Research & Therapy 2013, 15:R106). Concomitant and frequent uses of NSAIDs pain medications, nutraceutical products, and other medications for comorbidities in older knee OA patients is an area of concern, given the increased potential for side effects and drug-drug or drug-nutrient interactions.

Disclosure:  Supported by R01 AT005521 from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

 

 

Table 1. Self-reported uses of non-pain and pain medications, and nutriceutical products in knee OA patients

Nutriceutical products (patient n = 150)

Freq

Percent

Non-pain medication classes (patient n = 166)

Freq

Percent

Vitamin D and/or Calcium

201

41.4%

Hypertension

138

24.2%

Multivitamins & minerals

82

16.9%

Heart disease

112

19.6%

Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM

36

7.4%

Hyperlipidemia

47

8.2%

Fish oil

29

6.0%

Depression

36

6.3%

Vitamin B

22

4.5%

Diabetes mellitus

35

6.1%

Flaxseed oil

17

3.5%

Peptic ulcers

30

5.3%

Vitamin C

17

3.5%

Thyroid disorders

19

3.3%

Magnesium

7

1.4%

Insomnia

17

3.0%

Folate

5

1.0%

Respiratory disorders

14

2.5%

Vitamin E

5

1.0%

Constipation

11

1.9%

Coenzyme q10

4

0.8%

Rhinitis

10

1.8%

Probiotic

4

0.8%

Epilepsy

10

1.8%

Biotin

3

0.6%

Glaucoma

9

1.6%

Iron

3

0.6%

Asthma

8

1.4%

Krill oil

3

0.6%

Psychosis

8

1.4%

Tumeric

3

0.6%

HIV

7

1.2%

Chromium

2

0.4%

Anxiety

7

1.2%

Garlic

2

0.4%

Muscle spasm

7

1.2%

L-lysine

2

0.4%

Gout/hyperuricemia

6

1.1%

Red yeast rice

2

0.4%

Cancer

5

0.9%

Ubiquinol

2

0.4%

Rheumatoid arthritis

4

0.7%

Zinc

2

0.4%

Hypokalemia

4

0.7%

Miscellaneous nutraceuticals

31*

 

Neurologic disorders

3

0.5%

Subtotal

483

100%

Prostatic hyperplasia

3

0.5%

 

 

 

Gastrointestinal disorders

2

0.4%

 

 

 

Xerostomia

2

0.4%

Pain medications (patient n = 157)

Freq

Percent

Migraine

2

0.4%

NSAIDs

147

58.6%

Incontinence

2

0.4%

Acetaminophen

88

35.1%

Osteoporosis

2

0.4%

Opioids

16

6.4%

Miscellaneous non-pain medications

8*

 

Subtotal

251

100%

Subtotal

567

100%

Legends: Freq = Frequency; MSM = Methylsulfonylmethane. *Total number of unique miscellaneous nutraceuticals and non-pain medications that was reported once in our study population.


Disclosure:

M. Chung,
None;

J. B. Wong,
None;

S. Chang,
None;

C. Wang,
None.

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