ObjectiveTo observe the rate of efficacy and adverse drug reaction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the population with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, based on availabl e clinical data. MethodsUsing Meta analysis to evaluate the data of effec t and safety profile of NSAIDs from 19 articles on randomized clinical trials pu blished from 1990 to 2001 in Chinese journals. The total number of patients enro lled for evaluation on rates of effectiveness and adverse drug reaction were 1 732 and 2 925 ,respectively. ResultsData on the effect and safety were comparatively hete rogeneous among different kinds of NSAIDs. The effective rates (95%CI) were as follows: nabunetone, 66.7 %( 61.9%- 71.4 %); meloxicam, 68.4 %( 59.2%- 77.6 %);naproxen, 64.5 %( 59.8%- 69.1 %); nimesulide, 7 9.8 %( 75.7%- 84.0 %); ibuprofen, 77.2 %( 70.7%- 83.8 %); diclof enac, 77.1 %( 69.2%- 85.0 %); oxaprozin, 65.8 %( 59.5%- 72.0 % ). Rates of adverse drug reaction (95%CI) were as follows: nabunetone, 16. 3 %( 12.5%- 20.0 %);meloxicam, 10.2 %( 4.2 %- 16.2 %);naproxen, 29.2 %( 24.8%- 33.6 %);nimesulide, 20.2 %( 16.0%- 24.3 %);ibuprofen, 16.7 %( 14.7%- 18.8 %);diclofnec, 19 .3 %( 11.9%- 26.7 %);oxaprozin, 12.7 %( 8.9%- 16.7 %)respectivel y. ConclusionThe rates of effect and adverse reaction on patients having oeteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis with NSAIDs treatment would lar gely depend on the drugs being used. Within 2- 8 weeks of treatment, the eff ective rate and rate of adverse drug reaction with commonly used NSAIDs as nabum eton, meloxicam, etc., were 59.2%- 85.0 % and 4.2%- 33.6 %, respe ctively.