Fig. 2

Number of ADR reports per 100,000 younger/older German inhabitants per year. *interaction test of the slopes: p < 0.001; slope older adults: 1.3 [0.9-1.7]; slope younger adults: 0.5 [0.5-0.6]. Figure 2 shows the number of ADR reports for younger adults per 100,000 German inhabitants (19–65) and the number of ADR reports for older adults per 100,000 German inhabitants (> 65) [23] per year. The increases in the number of ADR reports for older adults and younger adults are presented as weighted linear regression slopes. There was a significant higher increase of the slope for the number of reports per 100,000 older adults than per 100,000 younger adults (p < 0.001). The obvious higher number of ADR reports for older adults in 2007 is mainly due to reports for rofecoxib (withdrawn in 2004). Roughly 30.0% of these ADR reports in 2007 referred to rofecoxib as suspected drug substance compared to 5.2% of the reports for younger adults. About 98.7% of the reports concerning rofecoxib in 2007 were reported by lawyers. Hence, the delayed increase of the number of ADR reports referring to rofecoxib may likely be due to lawsuit after its withdrawal. The limitations of both data sources have to be considered [23, 25]