Introduction
Older adults represent a growing proportion of the general population. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) constitute a group of medicines that are both necessary, owing to their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cardioprotective abilities, and potentially harmful, owing to their side effects.
Objectives
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of NSAID usage patterns among Polish adults aged 60 years and older. It focused on the regular use (≥ three times per week) of two types of NSAIDs: acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and non-ASA NSAIDs, examining consumption on the basis of age, sex, educational level, and place of residence.
Methods
Data were collected from the PolSenior2 study, a national cross-sectional survey of 5987 Polish individuals aged 60–106 years, conducted from 2018 to 2019.
Results
The study found that 30.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 28.8–32.7)]of Polish seniors regularly used NSAIDs, with 26.2% (95% CI 24.5–28.0) regularly using ASA, 6.3% (95% CI 5.3–7.2) regularly using non-ASA NSAIDs, and 1.9% (95% CI 1.4–2.3) reporting regular use of both. An age-related increase in regular NSAID use, including ASA, was observed. Women were more likely than men to use non-ASA NSAIDs regularly, whereas men in the 70–79 age group were more likely to use ASA. A lower level of education was associated with more frequent NSAID use.
Conclusions
The findings have implications for healthcare practitioners and policymakers, emphasizing the need for careful management of NSAID use. The study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of NSAID usage and underscores the necessity for tailored healthcare strategies to ensure safe and effective medication use among older adults.
