Table 3

Use of medication for relief of gout pain over the first week (diary days 1–7) and between weeks 2 and 4 (week 4 follow-up)

Days 1–7Weeks 2–4
NaproxenColchicineOR (95% CI) (p value)NaproxenColchicineOR (95% CI) (p value)
N (%)*N (%)*Complete case*Imputed†N (%)*N (%)*Complete case*Imputed†
Paracetamol20 (13.4)34 (23.6)2.09 (1.11 to 3.93)
(p=0.022)		1.91 (1.05 to 3.51)
(p=0.035)		10 (7.5)11 (7.1)1.12 (0.45 to 2.82)
(p=0.81)		0.98 (0.40 to 2.37)
(p=0.96)
Ibuprofen16 (10.7)20 (13.9)1.54 (0.72 to 3.29)
(p=0.27)		1.58 (0.80 to 3.12)
(p=0.19)		12 (9.0)27 (17.5)2.34 (1.11 to 4.94)
(p=0.026)		1.93 (0.90 to 4.14)
(p=0.089)
Diclofenac2 (1.3)4 (2.8)––4 (3.0)6 (3.9)––
Indomethacin1 (0.7)0 (0.0)––2 (1.5)5 (3.2)––
Tramadol1 (0.7)0 (0.0)––1 (0.7)2 (1.3)––
Codeine7 (4.7)21 (14.6)3.62 (1.47 to 8.93)
(p=0.005)		3.20 (1.35 to 7.57)
(p=0.008)		12 (9.0)8 (5.2)0.60 (0.22 to 1.65)
(p=0.32)		0.59 (0.23 to 1.50)
(p=0.27)
Prednisolone3 (2.0)2 (1.4)––2 (1.5)1 (0.6)––
Any analgesic or non-naproxen NSAID‡37 (24.8)61 (42.4)2.23 (1.35 to 3.66)
(p=0.001)		1.89 (1.24 to 2.88)
(p=0.003)		37 (27.6)52 (33.8)1.34 (0.81 to 2.21)
(p=0.26)		0.95 (0.63 to 1.43)
(p=0.81)

  • OR for colchicine relative to naproxen (adjusted for age, gender and baseline pain score). *Analysis of complete case data (days 1–7: n=288; five cases excluded due to missing baseline pain scores; week 4: n=283; five cases excluded due to missing baseline pain scores). †Analysis of imputed data (n=399). n/a: analysis not applicable (as it is an evaluation of compliance with allocated treatment). –, ORs not estimated due to small frequency counts.

  • *Complete response to medication questions: diary days 1–7—149 in naproxen group and 144 in colchicine group; week 4—134 in naproxen group and 154 in colchicine group.

  • †Imputed data set: 200 in naproxen group; 199 in colchicine group (full ITT analysis).

  • ‡Paracetamol or codeine or tramadol or ibuprofen or diclofenac or indomethacin.

  • ITT, intention-to-treat; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.