OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of acetaminophen (paracetamol), aspirin and dipyrone (metamizol) in a multicenter study.
PATIENTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the controls of a hospital-based case-control study (n = 1029) of bladder cancer using a matrix of drugs and active principles. The admission diagnosis of the study controls was not associated with chronic analgesic use. A logistic regression model was used.
RESULTS: Eight percent of the controls were regular users of aspirin, 5% regularly used acetaminophen and 2% regularly used dipyrone. Aspirin was more frequently used by subjects with at least secondary education (OR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.52-2.93). Women more frequently used acetaminophen (OR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.30-2.80) and dipyrone (OR = 2.80; 95% CI, 1.49-4.47). Subjects under 65 years old more frequently used dipyrone.
CONCLUSION: Chronic use of aspirin and acetaminophen is lower than that reported in North America or northern Europe and is similar to that seen in southern Europe. Differences in the pattern of analgesic use were found among sociodemographic population groups.
