Patient characteristics associated with prescribing of a newly introduced drug: the case of rofecoxib.

Objective: To identify socio-demographic characteristics of the first patients receiving a new drug-rofecoxib. Outcome measurement: Patients starting on rofecoxib or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and who had not received any NSAIDs the 90 days prior to starting. Results: Starting on rofecoxib was associated with an increasing age (OR in age 80 years and older 8.7; 95% CI 6.7–11.2), a poor self-perceived health (OR=2.4; 95% CI 1.8–3.3), female gender (OR=1.4; 95% CI 1.2–1.6), private insurance (OR=1.3; 1.1–1.5) and previous acetaminophen use (OR=1.3; 1.1–1.7). Conclusion: This study noted that specific patient characteristics were associated with getting rofecoxib prescribed shortly after marketing. General practitioners should be aware of selectively prescribing new drugs to specific patients because it may place patients at unintentional and avoidable risk. (aut. ref.