Question

Epidemiology Question

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are the most frequently used drugs in the U.S. with $111 million prescription filled annually and an estimated cost of about $2 billion annually from over-the-counter NSAID. The risks associated with NSAID include significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding, especially among older people. A study from Smalley et al. (1995, American Journal of Epidemiology) determined the incidence rate of serious ulcer disease among users and nonusers of NSAID. The incidence rate of peptic ulcer disease among NSAID users was 16.7 per 1000 person-years and the incidence rate among nonusers of NSAID was only 4.2 per 1000 person-years. The overall incidence rate of peptic ulcer disease in the population was 6.6 per 1000 person-years.

a.How much of the peptic ulcer disease that the NSAID users experienced was due to NSAID use, and consequently, how much of the peptic ulcer disease could be prevented if they did not use NSAID?

b.How much incidence of peptic ulcer disease could be reduced in the total population if NSAID was eliminated?

Answer 1