GI protection best for all NSAID patients

News release from the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment

3 February 2006

Research commissioned by the NHS HTA programme suggests there may be a case for prescribing gastroprotectants to all patients receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The research, which investigates the effectiveness of five different strategies for preventing side effects from NSAIDs, indicates that prescribing H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) to patients at low risk of side effects may be a cost-effective measure.

The study compared the effectiveness of H2RAs, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), misoprostol, cox-2 preferentials, and COXIBs for safeguarding against the side effects of NSAIDs, which can include nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, abdominal pain or diarrhoea. The economic analysis, published early online by Rheumatology, found prescribing an NSAID plus H2RA cost an average of £120 per patient, concluding that the strategy would prove cost-effective for patients at low risk of side effects due to the prevention of potentially serious and more expensive GI events. However, the study also concluded that those with recognised risk factors for GI side effects should be prescribed a PPI. The research, by a team from the University of Manchester, published in full in the Health Technology Assessment series Vol 10.38. you can view or download the report from the project details page.

Notes for editors


  1. The HTA programme is a programme of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and produces high quality research information about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest of the NIHR programmes and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal, with more than 400 issues published to date. The journal’s 2007 Impact Factor (3.87) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk The HTA programme is coordinated by the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment (NCCHTA), based at the University of Southampton.
  2. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility.  The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training.  Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk

Contact details

Naomi Stockley, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: ns5@soton.ac.uk

Helen Nikandrou, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 584, Email: h.nikandrou@soton.ac.uk

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