An Up-to-Date Description of the Use of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Italy: Evidence from Real Clinical Practice

The analysis showed that patients prescribed with NSAIDs were relatively young (~ 60 years), in contrast with the pathologies covered by Note 66, which typically affect elderly people. Moreover, rheumatic and oncological diseases were poorly represented, thus it is possible that NSAIDs might have been prescribed for indications outside the note. These findings suggest that the use of NSAIDs for pain management in Italy should be optimized, properly weighting their risks and benefits.