The Efficacy of Continuous Versus Intermittent Celecoxib Treatment in Osteoarthritis Patients with Body Mass Index ≥30 and <30 kg/m²

Characterize the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the efficacy of continuous daily celecoxib treatment compared with intermittent celecoxib treatment.

Prespecified exploratory analysis of a 24-week, double-blind, parallel-group, randomized, multicenter international study. 858 patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) were randomized to receive celecoxib 200 mg daily either as continuous or intermittent treatment. Efficacy was measured by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) total and subscale scores and the number of flare events.

Least squares mean increases (worsening) in WOMAC total scores were significantly less in the continuous treatment group than in the intermittent treatment group in patients with a BMI <30 kg/m² (1.33 vs 4.85; p=0.016) and in patients with a BMI ≥30 kg/m² (1.84 vs 5.12; p=0.019). There was a greater worsening in patients with a BMI ≥30 kg/m² than in those with a BMI <30 kg/m² in both the continuous and intermittent groups. Fewer flares were reported in the continuous treatment group than in the intermittent group in patients with a BMI <30 kg/m² (0.55 vs 0.88; p<0.0001) and ≥30 kg/m² (0.54 vs 0.97; p<0.0001). There were no differences in adverse events in the two BMI groups.

Continuous celecoxib treatment was significantly more efficacious than intermittent use in patients with a BMI <30 kg/m² compared with obese patients (≥30 kg/m²) as assessed by WOMAC total scores and the number of flares. These data suggest that including weight loss as part of a treatment regimen for obese OA patients could be important.