Are prescribers not aware of cardiovascular contraindications for diclofenac? A claims data analysis.

The overall decline of about 30% in diclofenac initiation between 2011 and 2014 was largely independent of the presence or absence of new contraindications. The proportion of diclofenac initiators with a new contraindication remained at a high level (more than one in ten patients), demonstrating the need for research at the prescriber level (e.g. interventional studies) and further measures to improve patient safety.