Association of long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with knee osteoarthritis: a prospective multi-cohort study over 4-to-5 years

Salis Z, Sainsbury A · Scientific Reports

Long-term NSAID users had higher odds of pain worsening (OR 2.04), disability (OR 2.21), and total knee replacement (OR 3.13), but no statistically significant difference in radiographic structural deterioration (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.94–1.65).

Population

4,197 participants (8,394 knees) from the OAI and CHECK cohorts followed 4–5 years

Intervention

Long-term NSAID use (including ibuprofen and other OTC agents; observed)

Comparator

Non-use

Limitations

Severe confounding by indication — people with worse knees take more NSAIDs; symptom outcomes especially vulnerable; NSAID types pooled.