Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for pain and inflammation but are associated with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. While this risk is well established, most studies evaluate NSAIDs as a homogenous class, limiting clinical decision-making based on individual agent safety. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the risk of GI bleeding associated with individual NSAIDs. We searched PubMed from inception through January 2025 using MeSH and free-text terms for "gastrointestinal bleeding" and nine commonly used NSAIDs. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) for GI bleeding, with hazard ratios (HRs) and relative risks (RRs) treated as approximations of ORs due to the rare event nature of GI bleeding. O

SUBMITTER: Tawfik AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12746519 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature