The economic consequences of NSAID-induced gastropathy in the United Kingdom and commentary on the article by G. de Pouvourville.

The iatrogenic cost factor of treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is defined as the increase in cost resulting from NSAID-induced gastroduodenal ulcers. The iatrogenic cost factor of NSAIDs for the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom was calculated using the model of de Pouvourville (1992). The cost factor is defined as the ratio of the shadow price of the NSAID to the NHS price. The shadow price is calculated from the incidence of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal ulcers and the costs of treating them and the price of the drugs. The NHS iatrogenic cost factors of 10 NSAIDs were similar to those calculated by de Pouvourville for the French national health insurance system, Assurance-Maladie, and ranged from 1.08 for diclofenac/misoprostol to 2.38 for ibuprofen.