Lack of influence of body mass index on efficacy and tolerance of acemetacin in short-term treatment of musculoskeletal diseases.

Dose adjustments of NSAIDs according to body weight may be reasonable for an optimal efficacy/tolerance profile in the therapy of musculoskeletal disorders, but are unusual in adults. In this post hoc analysis of a prospective, one-arm clinical study of a short-term treatment with acemetacin, a total of 406 patients with pain because of various musculoskeletal diseases with or without joint inflammation was evaluated for the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the reduction of pain at rest, pain at movement and for mobility restriction between visits one and three (primary outcome parameters). No association was found between BMI and the efficacy of acemetacin regarding the primary outcome parameters and no influence of BMI on the occurrence of adverse events was observed. Dose adjustment of acemetacin according to BMI thus appears not necessary in a short-term treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, but prospective controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.