NSAID-sparing effect of glucosamine hydrochloride in patients with knee osteoarthritis: an analysis of data from a French database

Abstract

Objective:

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a major cause of pain, functional limitation, and reduced quality-of-life, particularly in older adults. This study evaluated the ‘real world’ NSAID-sparing effect of glucosamine (specifically Structoflex®) in patients with knee OA compared with a control population of patients who did not receive a slow-acting symptomatic anti-osteoarthritis agent.

Research design and methods:

This analysis was conducted over a 1-year follow-up period. Data were sourced from the French Disease Analyzer (IMS Lifelink EMR™) database.

Main outcome measures:

The primary measure was the NSAID-sparing effect produced by Structoflex® compared with a matched control group. Secondary measures included an evaluation of the change in the number of general practitioner visits and use of other medicinal products related to knee OA.

Results:

A total of 11,772 patients (67.66% female) were included in the analysis (436 and 11,336 patients in the Structoflex® and control groups, respectively). Most patients were aged 50–65 years (58.72%); 19.5% of patients were aged >76 years. At study inclusion, 51.61% of patients had experienced OA for <1 year. Prior to starting Structoflex®, 51.61% of patients had received an NSAID prescription. Significantly more patients who were receiving an NSAID at the time of starting Structoflex® discontinued their NSAID treatment during the follow-up period compared with patients in the control group (32% vs 23%; p = 0.0452). During the 1-year follow-up period, the total mean duration of NSAID prescription (30.39 ± 38.64 days vs 37.82 ± 54.62 days; p = 0.0109) and the mean number of days (calculated using Defined Daily Dose) on NSAID (45.12 ± 49.03 days vs 53.00 ± 71.14 days; p = 0.0333) was significantly lower in Structoflex®-treated patients compared with control group patients.

Conclusions:

This large ‘real world’ analysis demonstrated a significant NSAID-sparing effect of glucosamine in patients with knee OA.

Keywords::

• Knee osteoarthritis
• Glucosamine
• NSAID-sparing
• Structoflex

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This study was funded by Pierre Fabre.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

PB has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other relationships to declare. CT has disclosed that he is an employee of Pierre Fabre. CMRO peer reviewers may have received honoraria for their review work. The peer reviewers on this manuscript have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank David P. Figgitt, PhD, Content Ed Net, for providing editorial support; funding for editorial support was provided by Pierre Fabre SA, Paris, France.