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Duloxetine for the management of pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: randomised placebo-controlled trial
Age and Aging, 07/05/2012
Clinical Article
Abou–Raya S et al. – The findings of the present study provide evidence for the efficacy and tolerability of duloxetine in reducing pain and subsequently improving function in older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Methods- Totally, 288 patients aged 65 years and above with primary knee OA were enrolled in this study.
- Patients were randomised 1:1. Totally, 144 received 60 mg/day of duloxetine HCL and 144 received placebo for 16 weeks.
- Outcome measures included pain reduction and improvement in physical functioning scores.
- Pain was assessed using the visual analogue pain scale (VAS; 0–100 mm).
- The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were used to assess function.
- Two–hundred and seventy four of the 288 patients completed the study.
- There was a statistically significant reduction in pain and a significant improvement in WOMAC scores at 16 weeks in the duloxetine group versus the placebo group.
- No serious side effects were reported.
