Characteristic Nimesulide Other NSAID Any NSAID No of users* 187 312 341 554 397 537 Median age 61 62 61 Male to female ratio 0.7:1 0.8:1 0.8:1 No of prescriptions 551 000 1 400 000 1 951 000 No of packets 636 000 1 857 000 2 492 000 Defined daily dose 9 535 000 24 998 000 34 533 000 No of prescriptions per user 2.9 2.2 2.4 No of packets per prescription 1.2 1.3 1.2 Current use (person years): Single 38 300 84 411 122 711 Mixed 9 994 18 125 18 125 Total 48 294 102 536 140 836

^* 129 334 participants received a prescription for both nimesulide and other NSAID (concomitantly (mixed use) or in different time periods). Person time of mixed use of nimesulide also contributes to person time of mixed use of other NSAID.

Ratios of users of single NSAIDs are similar. However, ratio is higher when NSAIDs are taken as group (with or without nimesulide) because females received more NSAIDs (different substances) than males and thus contribute less in total group than in partially overlapping subgroups.