In March 2016, The Lancet published a network meta-analysis of 74 randomised controlled trials involving over 58,000 participants looking at non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treating pain in hip and knee osteoarthritis.¹¹ The researchers concluded they could €see no role for single-agent paracetamol for the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis, irrespective of dose.€

They also found that €diclofenac 150mg/day is the most effective NSAID available at present, in terms of improving both pain and function,€ but warned that doctors need to consider the safety profiles of the drugs if prescribing them. The Proprietary Association of Great Britain has pointed out that €it is unclear whether investigators in some trials were properly blinded and most trials had a high risk of incomplete outcome data bias, therefore further research is needed to draw any firm conclusions.€¹²