Table 4

Analysis of arthritis patients according to gastrointestinal adverse events

Number of

Incidence of events (%)

Outcome and comparisons

Celecoxib daily dose

Comparator and daily dose

Trials

Patients

Celecoxib

Comparator

Relative risk^a (95% CI)

NNTp^b or NNH^c (95% CI)

Patient with any adverse event

Celecoxib v placebo

Any

Placebo

19

9,919

55

48

1.08 (1.04–1.13)^a

15 (11–21)^c

Celecoxib v paracetamol

Any

Paracetamol 4,000 mg

2

1,056

32

32

1.0 (0.84–1.2)

Celecoxib v rofecoxib

Any

Rofecoxib 25 mg

3

769

48

49

0.97 (0.84–1.1)

Celecoxib (200/400) v NSAID

200–400 mg

NSAID to maximum daily

19

22,615

45

50

0.92 (0.89–0.95)^a

18 (14–23)^b

Celecoxib (any dose) v NSAID

Any

NSAID to maximum daily

20

31,711

53

60

0.96 (0.94–0.98)^a

15 (13–18)^b

Celecoxib (any dose) v any active

Any

Any active comparator

24

33,400

53

59

0.96 (0.94–0.98)^a

17 (14–21)^b

Patient with any treatment-related adverse event

Celecoxib v placebo

Any

Placebo

19

9,919

9.5

8.1

1.22 (1.06–1.40)^a

71 (39–450)^c

Celecoxib v paracetamol

Any

Paracetamol 4,000 mg

3

1,056

9.0

8.8

1.04 (0.71–1.5)

Celecoxib v rofecoxib

Any

Rofecoxib 25 mg

4

1,579

6.6

9.0

0.74 (0.53–1.04)

Celecoxib (200/400) v NSAID

200–400 mg

NSAID to maximum daily

19

22,615

13.0

17.3

0.77 (0.72–0.82)^a

24 (19–31)^b

Celecoxib (any dose) v NSAID

Any

NSAID to maximum daily

19

23,743

12.7

17.3

0.77 (0.72–0.82)^a

22 (18–27)^b

Celecoxib (any dose) v any active

Any

Any active comparator

24

26,242

12.3

16.2

0.78 (0.73–0.83)^a

26 (21–33)^b

Patient with any serious adverse event

Celecoxib v placebo

Any

Placebo

19

9,919

1.0

1.4

0.67 (0.46–0.98)^a

280 (120–790)^b

Celecoxib v paracetamol

Any

Paracetamol 4,000 mg

2

1,056

0.5

0.6

0.76 (0.14–4.1)

Celecoxib v rofecoxib

Any

Rofecoxib 25 mg

5

2,671

2.3

2.1

1.1 (0.68–1.9)

Celecoxib (200/400) v NSAID

200–400 mg

NSAID to maximum daily

19

22,612

2.5

2.6

0.91 (0.77–1.08)

Celecoxib (any dose) v NSAID

Any

NSAID to maximum daily

20

31,708

3.3

3.6

1.02 (0.91–1.15)

Celecoxib (any dose) v any active

Any

Any active comparator

26

35,299

3.2

3.4

1.02 (0.91–1.15)

Patient with any gastrointestinal adverse event

Celecoxib v placebo

Any

Placebo

17

9,512

26.0

19.0

1.2 (1.1–1.4)^a

14 (12–19)^c

Celecoxib v paracetamol

Any

Paracetamol 4,000 mg

2

1,056

12.0

11.0

1.1 (0.8–1.6)

Celecoxib v rofecoxib

Any

Rofecoxib 25 mg

5

2,671

16.0

18.0

0.87 (0.74–1.03)

Celecoxib (200/400) v NSAID

200–400 mg

NSAID to maximum daily

18

30,043

26.0

34.0

0.84 (0.81–0.87)^a

12 (10–13)^b

Celecoxib (any dose) v NSAID

Any

NSAID to maximum daily

18

31,171

26.0

34.0

0.84 (0.81–0.87)^a

12 (10–13)^b

Celecoxib (any dose) v any active

Any

Any active comparator

24

34,762

26.0

32.0

0.85 (0.82–0.88)^a

14 (12–16)^b

^aRelative risk: bold indicates statistically significant difference. ^bNNTp (number-needed-to-treat to prevent one event) is indicated by bold. ^cNNH (number-needed-to-treat to harm one patient). CI, confidence interval; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Moore et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2005 7:R644   doi:10.1186/ar1704