Objective: evaluate the impact of Health Authorities' communication on medical practices through 2 examples: celecoxib, taking into account the recent countra indication related to cardio vascular risks; pergolide, taking into account the risk of cardiac valvulopathy.
Material and method: Use of the Pays de Loire Health Insurance Administration data base to monitor the number of cardio vascular patients at risk who receive celecoxib, and cardiac surveillance of pergolide exposed patients.
Results: Communication from Health Authorities resulted in a major decrease (71.9%) of the number of risking patients who take celecoxib, and a significant 14% decrease of pergolide treated patients needing cardiac monitoring
Conclusion: Unlike the information related to pergolide, the information related to celecoxib was fully taken into account. The difference seems to come from the fact that one was widely relayed by medias, not the other.