The estimated cost to the NHS of prescribing those at risk of complications is £31 million over a decade, researchers said
A recent study has raised the alarm over common drugs like naproxen, warning that people with conditions such as heart failure and peptic ulcers could suffer “avoidable harm”. The research suggests that the NHS could be shelling out a staggering £31 million over ten years due to complications arising from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) being prescribed to those at risk.
NSAIDs, including popular choices like ibuprofen and naproxen, are widely used for easing everything from headaches and sprains to the chronic pain of arthritis. They come in various forms think tablets, capsules, creams, gels, and even injections.
While NSAIDs are safe for many, they can lead to nasty side-effects for some, including stomach ulcers and dizziness, and in rare cases, more severe issues like kidney or liver problems, heart attacks, and strokes. Despite these risks, the practice of prescribing NSAIDs to high-risk individuals remains “still common”, reveals the study published in The BMJ.
The study, which delved into previous research on prescribing safety in England, zeroed in on five groups particularly vulnerable to NSAIDs’ side-effects. These groups include individuals on blood thinners, those battling heart failure or chronic kidney disease, people with a history of peptic ulcers, and those over 65 not taking gastroprotection meds to reduce gastric acid secretion.
Economic models have led researchers to suggest that “problematic NSAID prescribing” could end up costing NHS England a staggering £31.4 million over the next decade, not to mention resulting in lost years of good health for patients. The most significant financial hit is expected among patients on blood thinners, with costs projected at £25.4 million, while the most common issue arises among older individuals without gastroprotection, racking up £2.5 million in expenses, reports Wales Online.
The researchers pointed out: “NSAIDs continue to be a source of avoidable harm and healthcare cost in these five high risk populations, especially in inducing an acute event in people with chronic condition and people taking oral anticoagulants.”
It’s been noted that primary care prescriptions of NSAIDs in England have seen a decline of around 12% from 2017 to 2022.
In the year 2022 alone, naproxen known for easing joint and muscle pain and inflammation made up a whopping 69% of all NSAID prescriptions. Meanwhile, there’s been an uptick in prescriptions for COX-2 inhibitors, which are used to alleviate arthritis pain, although NSAID prescriptions for patients with heart risks have seen a decrease, the study reveals.
An NHS spokesperson has commented: “Prescribers have been acting to reduce NHS prescribing of NSAIDs in England and this has fallen by more than one in 10, over a five-year period. The nationally supported strategy is now focused on optimising medicines use in the NHS, including reducing the use of potentially addictive drugs such as opioid and sleeping pills.”
“There is more to do so it is vital that patients and healthcare professionals discuss whether to continue, reduce or stop taking a medicine and consider non-pharmaceutical alternatives that could be more beneficial to ensure prescribing is appropriate and makes best use of taxpayers’ money.”
