Table 1. Summary of detailed literature analysis*.

Study design/data collection method	Target groups	Number of studies	Prevalence intervals and range of findings on analgesic use	Main findings	Sources
Doping control forms	Professional/elite athletes	12	Competition runup 3 days 2.8% (tennis) to 54.2% (football) NSAIDs Up to 17.5% (football) other analgesics 2 studies reported 7-day prevalence	In elite sports, the use of analgesics is mostly widespread, variable, and often prophylactic.	9, 10, 26, 36, e4, e6, e 14 e16, e19 e21
Surveys	Professional/elite athletes High-performance athletes Amateur athletes	25	Competition day 3.1% (half-marathon) to 70% (ultra-marathon) NSAIDs 0.5% (half-marathon) to 17.4% (ultra-run) other analgesics	Data for analgesic use in recreational/high-performance sports are dominated by running. Prevalences range from low to very high consumption. Some of the use is prophylactic. Not every study records the use of other analgesics apart from NSAIDs.	6, 7, 17, 18, 20, 24, 27–30, 32, 34, 35, 38–40, e1, e5, e7–e11, e13, e24
			Weekly prevalence 6.3% (half-marathon) to 50.4% (5-km run) NSAIDs Only one study reported other analgesics: 3.2% (half-marathon) and 5.4% (56-km run)
			1-year prevalence 35.8% (ultra-marathon) to 92.6% (football) NSAIDs 7.8% (Olympics) to 64% (football) other analgesics
Study design/data collection method	Target groups	Number of studies	Object	Main findings	Sources
Reviews	Professional/elite athletes High-performance athletes Amateur athletes	18	Narrative and selective literature reviews	Frequency of analgesic use, analgesic abuse, prophylactic use of analgesics, adverse drug reactions, hazards and risks of analgesic use.	8, 19, 21–23, 25, e2, e3, e12, e17, e18, e22, e23
			Systematic literature reviews		12, 31, 33, 37, e25

*See also eTables 3–6; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs