Proton pump inhibitors: use and misuse in the clinical setting

Population pharmacokinetics of omeprazole in obese and normal-weight adults

BACKGROUND

Obesity is related to many pathophysiological changes that may result in altered drug disposition. Omeprazole is the most common option utilized for acid-related disorders treatment; however, the pharmacokinetic (PK) and dosing recommendations for the obese patient population are lacking.

METHODS

Data from 40 healthy subjects with normal weights and data from 61 obese subjects were included. The subjects all received a single dose of 20 mg of omeprazole. Nonlinear mixed effects modeling were performed to characterize the effect of obesity on omeprazole PK.

RESULTS

A one-compartment model with twelve transit absorption compartments and linear elimination described the data best. A lower clearance was observed in the obese patient population than in the normal-weight subjects, which was opposite to the well-known allometric effect of body weight on drug clearance. Moreover, the CYP2C19 genotype was identified as a significant covariate for clearance.

CONCLUSION

Given the potential adverse events related to high exposure to proton pump inhibitors over time, obese patients may require a lower dose of omeprazole for long-term treatment. Further studies in obese individuals into other drugs metabolized by CYP2C19 are warranted, especially those with a narrow therapeutic window.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

www.chictr.org.cn identifier is ChiCTR2100046578; www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn identifier is CTR20190175.

An update of pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of vonoprazan in acid-related disorders

INTRODUCTION

Patients with acid-related disorders (ARDs) of the upper digestive tract remain highly prevalent and need to be continuously investigated to improve their management.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides a summary of the most recent advancements in the treatment of ARDs with particular focus on the new drugs available to overcome the unmet needs of traditional therapies.

EXPERT OPINION

Proton pump inhibitors remain the best therapy in treating ARDs, but a consistent proportion of these patients continues to present mucosal lesions or to experience symptoms despite treatment. These cases pertain mainly to the most severe forms of erosive esophagitis or to non-erosive reflux disease. Also, the increasing rate of patients with H. pylori infection not responding to eradication therapy represents a difficult clinical condition. The recent advent of a new class of antisecretory drugs, such as the potassium competitive acid blockers and, among them the most studied vonoprazan, which are characterized by a better pharmacological profile than PPIs (rapid onset of action, longer lasting acid suppression, control of nocturnal acidity), has the potential to overcome the above-mentioned unmet needs. More research should be done to assess their efficacy in Western populations and their safety in patients treated in the long term.

Management of Osteoarthritis: Expert Opinion on NSAIDs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability among older adults worldwide. Treatment aims are to alleviate inflammatory pain and improve physical function through non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended as first-line therapy. However, selection is challenged by patient age, comorbidities and polypharmacy, and by the drug's benefit/risk balance, all of which together influence the risk of cardiovascular (CV), gastrointestinal (GI) and renal adverse events (AEs). While the efficacy profile of the various NSAIDs is delineated, the differences in their safety profile are not straightforward. This narrative review provides practical indications by a multidisciplinary Italian expert panel for general practitioners and specialists managing OA patients with chronic inflammatory pain; the goal is to maximize therapy efficacy while reducing untoward effects caused by inappropriate NSAID use. The discussion on the best approach to NSAIDs spanned the following topics: (1) patient evaluation: investigate pain origin, duration and components together with possible risk factors for CV, GI and renal AEs; (2) non-pharmacological interventions: the physiatrist provides a person-centered, holistic approach accounting for all patient aspects; (3) pharmacological interventions: patient profile and drugs' pharmacological properties affect NSAID selection, which drugs to be used in combination or to be avoided, formulation and therapy duration; (4) the pharmacologist's, general practitioner's and pain therapist's points of view; (5) NSAID safety: the individual baseline risk and the drug's safety profile are major determinants of CV, GI and renal risk; consider possible drug-drug interactions; (6) periodical re-evaluation of treatment response and adherence, using scales to assess pain and function.

[Proton-pump inhibitors treatment. Does your patient really need it?]

INTRODUCTION

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) are frequently prescribed for wide gastrointestinal disorders. The indications are well established, although a high rate of misuse has been reported.

METHODS

Observation cross-sectional study conducted a tertiary hospital. Adult patients who attended the emergency department were eligible. The appropriate indication was evaluated. Also, the prescription period, dosage and the prescribing clinician were reviewed.

RESULTS

300 patients were included. The indication was adequate in 142 patients (47.3%). The main indication was the primary prophylaxis for NSAIDs/ASA-induced enteropathy (n=95 patients, 31.7%). Polypharmacy was the main misuse indication (n=82 patients, 27.3%). The median prescription duration was 31 months (IQR 9-72), ranging from one month to 360 months. The duration was lower in those with correct indication (42.3 vs 59.6 months, P=.02). The primary care physician was the main responsible for prescription (n=165 patients, 55%), followed by gastroenterologist (n=38 patients, 12.7%) without significant differences in appropriateness by speciality.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies like this raise awareness about the PPI overuse and misuse. Deprescribing should be considered as essential to reduce iatrogenic risk and redundant health expenditure.

The pharmacotherapeutic management of duodenal and gastric ulcers

INTRODUCTION

Although the incidence and prevalence of duodenal and gastric ulcers have been declining, it remains challenging for health care systems. Based on the underlying cause, history, and characteristics of ulcers, management is generally provided by administering proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or antibiotics.

AREAS COVERED

This article is based on global guidelines and English language literature from the past decade obtained through searches using PubMed, Clinicaltrials.gov, the US FDA, and the Cochrane library. Using a stepwise approach, dose and duration of treatment, drug interactions, warnings and contraindications, adverse effects, and administration points were specified. New drug candidates that may get American and European approvals were also introduced.

EXPERT OPINION

Despite the wide use of PPIs, their development lags behind the clinical need. There is an absolute requirement to develop third-generation PPIs with higher potency and improved pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. Regarding the antibiotic resistance crisis, including those used against H. pylori, conducting more clinical trials and investigating regional antibiotic resistance are warranted. Potassium competitive acid blockers, ilaprazole, and an H. pylori vaccine all show promise for the future.

Reducing Overuse of Proton Pump Inhibitors for Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis and Nonvariceal Gastrointestinal Bleeding in the Hospital: A Narrative Review and Implementation Guide

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly used medications in the world; however, these drugs carry the risk of patient harm, including acute and chronic kidney disease, Clostridium difficile infection, hypomagnesemia, and fractures. In the hospital setting, PPIs are overused for stress ulcer prophylaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding, and PPI use often continues after discharge. Numerous multifaceted interventions have demonstrated safe and effective reduction of PPI use in the inpatient setting. This narrative review and the resulting implementation guide summarize published interventions to reduce inappropriate PPI use and provide a strategy for quality improvement teams.

Reducing Inappropriate Proton Pump Inhibitors Use for Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Hospitalized Patients: Systematic Review of De-Implementation Studies

BACKGROUND

A large proportion of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescriptions, including those for stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP), are inappropriate. Our study purpose was to systematically review the effectiveness of de-implementation strategies aimed at reducing inappropriate PPI use for SUP in hospitalized, non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) patients.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE and Embase databases (from inception to January 2020). Two authors independently screened references, performed data extraction, and critical appraisal. Randomized trials and comparative observational studies were eligible for inclusion. Criteria developed by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) group were used for critical appraisal. Besides the primary outcome (inappropriate PPI prescription or use), secondary outcomes included (adverse) pharmaceutical effects and healthcare use.

RESULTS

We included ten studies in this review. Most de-implementation strategies contained an educational component (meetings and/or materials), combined with either clinical guideline implementation (n = 5), audit feedback (n = 3), organizational culture (n = 4), or reminders (n = 1). One study evaluating the de-implementation strategy effectiveness showed a significant reduction (RR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03-0.55) of new inappropriate PPI prescriptions. Out of five studies evaluating the effectiveness of de-implementing inappropriate PPI use, four found a significant reduction (RR 0.21; 95% CI 0.18-0.26 to RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.68-0.86). No significant differences in the occurrence of pharmaceutical effects (n = 1) and in length of stay (n = 3) were observed. Adverse pharmaceutical effects were reported in two studies and five studies reported on PPI or total drug costs. No pooled effect estimates were calculated because of large statistical heterogeneity between studies.

DISCUSSION

All identified studies reported mainly educational interventions in combination with one or multiple other intervention strategies and all interventions were targeted at providers. Most studies found a small to moderate reduction of (inappropriate) PPI prescriptions or use.

Preparation of a polydopamine/β-cyclodextrin coated open tubular capillary electrochromatography column and application for enantioseparation of five proton pump inhibitors

An open tubular capillary electrochromatography column was prepared by immobilizing β-cyclodextrin on the inner wall of pretreated capillary via noncovalent adsorption of polydopamine. The resulting coating layer on the capillary was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Electroosmotic flow was studied to evaluate the variation of the immobilized columns. The prepared columns showed good chiral separation performance toward five proton pump inhibitors including lansoprazole, pantoprazole, tenatoprazole, rabeprazole, and omeprazole. The influences of β-cyclodextrin concentration, coating time, buffer pH, buffer concentration, and applied voltage on separation were investigated. In the optimum conditions, the enantiomers of five analytes were fully resolved within 15 min with high resolutions of 4.57 to 8.13. The method was extensively validated in terms of accuracy, precision, and linearity and proved to be robust. The relative standard deviation values for migration times and peak areas of the analytes representing intraday and interday were less than 1.9 and 3.6%, respectively. Further, the polydopamine/β-cyclodextrin coated capillary column could be successively used over 100 runs without showing significant decrease in the separation efficiency.

Development of an evaluation indicator system for the rational use of proton pump inhibitors in pediatric intensive care units: An application of Delphi method

Proton pump inhibitors are frequently used to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients. But there is little information in the instructions about the usages for children. It is important to monitor the appropriate use of proton pump inhibitors, especially in pediatrics. Therefore, we developed an evaluation indicator system for the rational use of proton pump inhibitors in pediatric intensive care units.First, a systematic review was conducted to developed the initial indicators. Then 2 rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted to collecting opinions from a panel of independent experts, and the indicator system was modified to form the final indicators according to the opinions. Finally, the analytic hierarchy procedure was used to determine the weight of each indicator.A total of 6 guidelines and 2 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on literature and discussion among experts, an initial indicator system including 4 first-rank indicators and 12 second-rank indicators was formed. After 2 rounds of Delphi surveys, 2 indicators were added, 5 indicators were deleted, and 1 indicator was revised, so the final indicator system contained a total of 13 indicators including 3 first-rank indicators (drug selection, drug usage and dosage, duration of drug therapy) and 10 second-rank indicators (the proportion of PPIs used in children, children under 1 year old, children who is using glucocorticoids, children with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, children with gastroesophageal reflux disease, children with sepsis, children with ventilators in PICU; the strength of PPIs' use, the proportion of omeprazole in children using PPIs during the same period; the average days of PPIs used in children). By analyzing scores, all coefficients met the standard, indicating the indicators were scientific and credible.Through a two-round Delphi survey, 3 first-rank indicators and ten second-rank indicators were developed, which will help drug administrative departments to promote the rational use of PPIs for children in PICUs. What is more, our study can constitute a methodological reference for the development of other indicator systems.

Association between Proton Pump Inhibitors and Hearing Impairment: A Nested Case-Control Study

This study investigated the association of previous use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) with the rate of hearing impairment. The ≥40-year-old population in the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort was enrolled. The 6626 registered hearing-impaired patients were matched with 508,240 control participants for age, sex, income, region of residence, and index date (date of hearing impairment diagnosis). The prescription histories of PPIs were collected for 2 years before the index date. The odds ratios of the duration of PPI use for hearing impairment were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Subgroups of age/sex and severity of hearing impairments were additionally analyzed for the relation of PPI use with hearing impairment. PPI use for 30-365 days was associated with a 1.65-times higher odds of hearing impairment (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.47-1.86 for 30-365 days of PPI medication). PPI use for ≥365 days was also related to 1.52-times higher odds of hearing impairment (95% CI = 1.35-1.72, p < 0.001). All age and sex subgroups demonstrated a positive association between PPI use and hearing impairment. Severe hearing impairment showed consistently higher odds of a relation with PPI use. PPI use was associated with an increased rate of hearing impairment.

Pharmacological Management of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease: An Update of the State-of-the-Art

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent, chronic disorder, whose knowledge remains limited and the management of these patients changes continuously. This review provides a summary of the most recent advancements in the pathogenesis of this disease and the new drugs introduced into the market to overcome some of the unmet needs of traditional therapies. Nowadays, the most fruitful diagnostic examinations are 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring, which allows us to separate true NERD from esophageal functional disorders and high-resolution manometry, which helps to exclude the existence of motility disorders sharing the same symptoms of GERD. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remain the first-choice therapy in the treatment of GERD, but a consistent proportion of these patients continue to experience symptoms despite their intake. These cases pertain mainly to the subpopulation with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and represent very challenging clinical situations, because it is mandatory to understand the reasons for PPI failure. The management of these difficult patients requires necessarily to test them and avoid the use of empiric treatments that are often unsuccessful, costly and potentially dangerous. Recently, several new drugs have been used to increase the defensive properties of this mucosa with promising results in randomized clinical trials.

Proton-pump inhibitors and chronic kidney disease: Hidden consequences of an inappropriate drug use?

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective therapy for gastric acid- related diseases. They are generally well tolerated with rare, often self-limiting adverse reactions. On the other hand, there is growing concern regarding the increased public access and inappropriate PPI use. This review aims to give a critical appraisal of current literature and to analyze a possible relationship between renal disorders and PPI use. A plethora of observational pharmacoepidemiological studies link PPI therapy to the development of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). Most of these studies show a higher risk for acute kidney injury, de novo chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. However, current evidence is inadequate to establish a causal relationship between PPI use and many of the proposed renal syndromes. Residual confounding and bias related to study design and the over extrapolation of quantitatively small treatment effects contributed to the unnecessary controversy about PPI safety. Undoubtedly, PPI use may rarely induce AIN. Given the worldwide use of PPIs, the number of patients with biopsy- proven AIN is extremely small. However, more research is required to explore the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and possible differences between commercially available PPIs regarding adverse renal effects. Till then, the PPIs should be used in the lowest effective dose, and inappropriate use should be avoided.

Reflux Symptoms - Functional and Structural Diseases: The Approach from the General Practitioner

A primary care management strategy of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) should pay attention to the epidemiology, prevalence, and distribution of reflux-like symptoms in the community and to the special characteristics of patients presenting for the first time with reflux symptoms in primary care. General practitioners (GPs) encounter daily challenges to make cost-effective differential diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, avoiding needless and costly investigation or referral. They should provide long-term effective control of symptoms and esophageal healing in a personalized, symptom-based, patient-centered, and evidence-based manner. GPs should use a practical system of triage in order to distinguish the high majority of patients with self-limiting conditions from the minority with alarm symptoms with potentially severe disorder. They should also discriminate between troublesome and nontroublesome reflux symptoms. Most GERD is uncomplicated and can be treated using management algorithms that make the best use of resources. Some strategies such as "step-down," "intermittent," or "on-demand" therapy can cost-effectively improve the long-term management and quality of life of patients with recurrent GERD. The accurate interpretation of "step-down" therapeutic strategy and a careful interpretation of proton pump inhibitor refractoriness are also essential.

Common Pitfalls in the Management of Patients with Micronutrient Deficiency: Keep in Mind the Stomach

Micronutrient deficiencies are relatively common, in particular iron and cobalamin deficiency, and may potentially lead to life-threatening clinical consequences when not promptly recognized and treated, especially in elderly patients. The stomach plays an important role in the homeostasis of some important hematopoietic micronutrients like iron and cobalamin, and probably in others equally important such as ascorbic acid, calcium, and magnesium. A key role is played by the corpus oxyntic mucosa composed of parietal cells whose main function is gastric acid secretion and intrinsic factor production. Gastric acid secretion is necessary for the digestion and absorption of cobalamin and the absorption of iron, calcium, and probably magnesium, and is also essential for the absorption, secretion, and activation of ascorbic acid. Several pathological conditions such as Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis, corpus atrophic gastritis, as well as antisecretory drugs, and gastric surgery may interfere with the normal functioning of gastric oxyntic mucosa and micronutrients homeostasis. Investigation of the stomach by gastroscopy plus biopsies should always be considered in the management of patients with micronutrient deficiencies. The current review focuses on the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of gastric acid secretion and the role of the stomach in iron, cobalamin, calcium, and magnesium deficiency and ascorbate homeostasis.

Using a Systems Engineering Framework to Evaluate Proton Pump Inhibitor Prescribing in Critically Ill Patients

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a risk factor for hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Much PPI use is inappropriate, and interventions to reduce PPI use, such as for stress ulcer prophylaxis in all critically ill patients, are essential to reduce CDI rates. This mixed-methods study in a combined medical-surgical intensive care unit at a tertiary academic medical center used a human factors engineering approach to understand barriers and facilitators to optimizing PPI prescribing in these patients. We performed chart review of patients for whom PPIs were prescribed to evaluate prescribing practices. Semistructured provider interviews were conducted to determine barriers and facilitators to reducing unnecessary PPI use. Emergent themes from provider interviews were classified according to the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety model. In our intensive care unit, 25% of PPI days were not clinically indicated. Barriers to optimizing PPI prescribing included inadequate provider education, lack of institutional guidelines for stress ulcer prophylaxis, and strong institutional culture favoring PPI use. Potential facilitators included increased pharmacy oversight, provider education, and embedded decision support in the electronic medical record. Interventions addressing barriers noted by front line providers are needed to reduce unnecessary PPI use, and future studies should assess the impact of such interventions on CDI rates.

[Evidence-Based Indication for Proton Pump Inhibitors - a Group Practice Perspective]

Evidence-Based Indication for Proton Pump Inhibitors - a Group Practice Perspective Abstract. Little is known about the extent of non-evidence-based proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescriptions in the general practice setting in Switzerland. A recommendation for long-term therapy was included in the "Top 5 list" of "smarter medicine" for the outpatient internal medicine in 2014. The observational study recorded the proportion of patients without evidence-based indication for PPI in a practice with six general practitioners retrospectively over three months. Of 2225 patients analysed, 11.1 % (n = 248) took a PPI. The percentage of patients without a clear evidence-based indication was 46.8 %. Almost every second patient did not have a clear evidence-based indication for PPI. The results could be an incentive for general practitioners to reconsider the indication when prescribing PPI, also in the sense of "smarter medicine".

Proton pump inhibitors and the risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

PURPOSE

The increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) associated with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has attracted considerable attention; however, the conclusions of studies evaluating this correlation are inconsistent or even controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the association of PPI use with the risk of CRC.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify relevant studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between PPI use and the risk of CRC were estimated with a fixed-effects or random-effects model.

RESULTS

We identified and included 9 observational studies (3 cohort studies and 6 case-control studies) comprising 1,036,438 participants. Overall, there was no statistically significant association between PPI use and the risk of CRC (pooled OR 1.26, 95% CI: 0.90-1.73; p = 0.166) when PPI exposure was assessed as a binary variable. However, a weak association between long-term use of PPIs and CRC was demonstrated (pooled OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.09-1.31; p < 0.001) when the cumulative duration of PPI exposure was confined to > 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the present meta-analysis suggests a weak association between long-term use (> 5 years) of PPIs and CRC, there is not enough statistical power to refute or confirm an association between the use of PPIs and CRC. More high-quality prospective cohort studies are needed to assess this correlation.

The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease increases the risk of developing postoperative shoulder stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

Postoperative shoulder stiffness (SS) after arthroscopic rotator cuff (RC) repair has been reported with a variable incidence, and numerous preoperative risk factors have been described. This prospective study aimed to document the incidence of postoperative SS and to evaluate the role of preoperative risk factors in the development of this complication, with a special focus on the role of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

METHODS

Preoperative risk factors for SS were prospectively evaluated in 237 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic single-row RC repair. The presence of GERD was evaluated with the GerdQ diagnostic tool. Postoperative SS was diagnosed according to the criteria described by Brislin et al in 2007.

RESULTS

The incidence of postoperative SS was 8.02%. The presence of GERD was significantly associated with the development of postoperative SS (odds ratio [OR], 5.265; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.657-1.731; P = .005). Older age (OR, 0.896; 95% CI, 0.847-0.949; P < .001), male sex (OR, 0.126; 95% CI, 0.0252-0.632; P = .012), and number of pregnancies (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.228-0.967; P = .040) emerged as protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of GERD significantly influences the development of postoperative SS after arthroscopic single-row RC repair. An underlying aspecific proinflammatory condition, characterized by increased expression of tumor necrosis factor α and transforming growth factor β, and disorders in retinoid metabolism are hypotheses that could explain this previously unknown association. The documented incidence of postoperative SS falls within previously reported ranges, with women being significantly more affected than men.

Proton pump inhibitor utilisation and potentially inappropriate prescribing analysis: insights from a single-centred retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to characterise the prescribing patterns and evaluate the appropriateness of the prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in adult patients via a review of electronic medical records in a single-centred hospital.

DESIGN

All patients admitted to the outpatient department of Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018 were evaluated. Individuals aged 18 years or above and with at least one dispensing for PPIs were identified as PPI users. New PPI users were defined as a subject who did not receive any dispensing for PPIs in the year prior to the index date. Baseline characteristics of PPI users and their therapies were described by treatment indication, economic indicators and co-prescription, overall and separately.

SETTING

The prescription database was retrieved from the hospital information system of Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University.

RESULTS

Among 18 435 identified PPI users in 2018, 14 219 patients (aged 18 years or above) who had at least one dispensing PPIs were new users (77%), and among them, men accounted for 47%. The mean treatment duration was 23 days. Omeprazole was the most commonly prescribed drug. PPIs are inappropriately prescribed in 50% (13 589/25 850) of prescriptions. Prescription appropriateness analysis indicated that the unapproved indications for PPI new users accounted for 47%; among them, the proportion of gastritis diagnosis was 34%. The proportion of PPI new users with co-prescription of glucocorticosteroids (GCs) who have risk factors accounted for 24% and lower than other co-prescription. A majority of PPI users (73%) reported high-dose PPI prescription. The defined daily dose of oral pantoprazole was the highest, and injectable omeprazole had the highest defined daily cost. In contrast, only the drug utilisation index value of oral esomeprazole was less than 1.0.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate the challenge of PPI use was accompanied by unapproved indications, frequent inappropriate co-prescription with GCs and excessive dosages. Efforts should be paid to promote rational use and ensure the choice of suitable PPI therapy in the future.

Incidence trends of esophageal cancer in the Czech Republic by histological subtype and stage and prescription rate of acid suppressing drugs

BACKGROUND

Incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease has increased substantially in developed countries during the past decades. We aimed to analyze trends in incidence of esophageal cancer (EC) by histological subtypes and trends in acid suppressing drugs prescription in the Czech Republic.

METHODS

The incidence of EC by histological subtypes, sex, and stage from 1984-2017 was examined using data from the Czech National Cancer Registry. Defined daily doses of acid inhibiting drugs were analyzed from annual reports by the State Institute for Drug Control.

RESULTS

Age standardized incidence of EAC in men increased annually by 4.88 % with 95 % confidence interval (CI) (4.32, 5.45) from 1984 to 2017, and by 5.11 % (95 % CI, 4.02, 6.20) in women. Squamous cell carcinoma increased annually by 5.52 % (95 % CI, 2.49, 8.64) from 1984 to 1994 with subsequent slower increase by 0.87 % (95 % CI, 0.25, 1.50) from 1994 to 2017. It still represents 50 % of all EC in 2017. The comparable early stages of EAC showed similar annual percentage change of 5.77 %. From 2001 to 2018 the use of proton pump inhibitors increased dramatically from 6.8 to 72.9 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of EAC is still increasing in the Czech Republic, however it represents less than half of ECs. The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma is relatively stable. Broad use of acid suppressing drugs did not seem to impact the incidence of EAC even in early stages.

Prospective observational study of the use of omeprazole and maropitant citrate in veterinary specialist care

The proton pump inhibitor omeprazole is administered to dogs with gastroduodenal ulceration or oesophagitis, whereas the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist maropitant citrate is licensed as an antiemetic drug. In people, omeprazole is overprescribed in hospitals, increasing the risk of adverse effects and imposing unnecessary costs in healthcare. To investigate the use of omeprazole and maropitant in our veterinary specialist hospital, we conducted a prospective observational study in its Medicine and Surgery wards, recording patient data and obtaining contemporaneous information from clinicians about their reasons for administering either drug. In doing so, we find omeprazole and maropitant are administered to a large proportion of dogs, including to many of those with no presenting signs suggestive of gastrointestinal disease. We find prescribing clinicians consider both drugs safe but often underestimate their financial cost. We find the stated reasons and objective predictors of administration of both drugs vary according to clinical setting but that these modalities yield concordant results. Reviewing the manner of administration and stated indications for use of both drugs, we find omeprazole is often administered outside dosing recommendations, and both drugs are frequently administered for aims that are unlikely to be achieved when considering their known biological effects in dogs. In conclusion, our work reveals probable overprescribing of omeprazole and maropitant citrate in hospitalised dogs, highlighting a need for initiatives to decrease inappropriate prescribing.

Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Hungary: Mixed-Method Study to Reveal Scale and Characteristics

Background

Due to their efficacy and tolerability, utilization of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) has significantly increased worldwide. Parallel to the clinical benefits, potential long-term side effects have been observed, which, along with increasing medical expenses and potential drug interactions, justifies the analysis of the trends of utilization.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to show the level, pattern, and characteristics of PPI use.

Methods

We assessed the nationwide use of proton pump inhibitors in ambulatory care based on aggregated utilization data from the National Health Insurance database. The annual PPI utilization was expressed as the number of packages and as number of DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants and per year. For 2018, we estimated PPI exposure as the number of packages and as the number of DDDs per user per year. The annual reimbursement costs of proton pump inhibitors were also calculated. Moreover, three patient-level surveys were carried out in non-gastroenterological inpatient hospital departments to reveal characteristics of proton pump inhibitor use, namely dose, duration, and indication.

Results

The PPI utilisation increased from 5867.8 thousand to 7124.9 thousand packages and from 41.9 to 50.4 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants and per day between 2014 and 2018. Nationwide data showed that 14% of the adult population was exposed to proton pump inhibitors in 2018, while among hospitalized patients, the prevalence of proton pump inhibitor use was between 44.5% and 54.1%. Pantoprazole was the most frequently used active ingredient, both in the nationwide data and in the patient-level surveys. In the patient-level survey in majority of patients (71.5%-80.0%) proton pump inhibitors were prescribed for prophylaxis. Many inpatients (29.4%-36.9%) used 80 mg pantoprazole per day. The average number of PPI packages per user was 6.5 in 2018 in the nationwide data. The duration of PPI therapy was typically between 1 and 5 years in the patient-level surveys and nearly 20% of the inpatients had been taking proton pump inhibitors for more than 5 years.

Conclusions

Our data suggests that Hungarian patients receive proton pump inhibitors in high doses and for a long time. Use of proton pump inhibitors beyond their recommended indications was also found.

A SIGE-SINGEM-AIGO technical review on the clinical use of esophageal reflux monitoring

Patients with esophageal symptoms potentially associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease such as heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, or cough represent one of the most frequent reasons for referral to gastroenterological evaluation. The utility of esophageal reflux monitoring in clinical practice is: (1) to accurately define reflux burden, (2) to segregate patients according to reflux monitoring results as true GERD, reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn, and (3) to establish a treatment plan. With this in mind, in the last decade, investigations and technical advances, with the introduction of impedance-pH monitoring and wireless pH capsule, have enhanced our understanding and management of GERD. The following recommendations were discussed and approved after a comprehensive review of the medical literature pertaining to reflux testing techniques and their recent application. This review created under the auspices of the Società Italiana di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva (SIGE), Società Italiana di Neuro-Gastro-Enterologia e Motilità (SINGEM) and Associazione Italiana Gastroenterologi ed Endoscopisti Digestivi Ospedalieri (AIGO) is intended to help clinicians in applying reflux studies in the most fruitful manner within the context of their patients with esophageal symptoms.

Relevance of proton pump inhibitors prescriptions in a tertiary care hospital in Lebanon

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Studies have shown that PPIs are frequently used in an inappropriate way, above the standard doses, and against the recommendations, leading to adverse events like malabsorption problems, community acquired pneumonia, hip fractures and Clostridium difficile colitis. In Lebanon only one study about the out-patient use of PPI was done in community pharmacies, but in-patient prescription studies are inexistent. Our study will evaluate the use of PPIs in a hospital setting in Lebanon and will compare it to international recommendations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study, conducted in a university hospital in Lebanon (CHU NDS) between June and November 2018, included 186 randomly selected Lebanese inpatient adults.

RESULTS

Less than half of the participants (46.8%) received a PPI for the adequate indication and 83.9% received the adequate PPI molecule, whereas only 9.2% received the adequate dose. The rate of PPI misuse was higher in the surgery ward (59.6%) than in the medicine department (40.4%) (Cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, pneumology, nephrology, infectious diseases, gastro-enterology, rheumatology). Concerning age, 56.3% of the ≥ 65 years old patients were taking PPI for the right indication. However, among those who are < 65 years old, only 43.7% of the prescriptions were recommended. Also adequate PPI indication and adequate choice of drug was mainly noticed in patients having GI history or taking antiplatelet therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our study has shown that a significant amount of PPIs was prescribed inadequately leading to a need to re-evaluate or adjust the use of PPIs among Lebanese physicians.

Pain after mandibular ramus block harvesting and lateral ridge augmentation with and without involvement of platelet-rich fibrin: a randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain after mandibular ramus block harvesting and lateral ridge augmentation. Autogenous bone block grafts were covered with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membranes (test group) or deproteinized bovine bone and a resorbable collagen membrane (control group). This study included 27 partially edentulous patients (test = 14, control = 13) with an indication for bone block augmentation before staged implant placement. Postoperative methylprednisolone (32 mg, day 1) and analgesics comprising ibuprofen (400 mg, four times daily) and paracetamol (1 g, four times daily) were prescribed for 1 week. Pain was recorded by the patient on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS), hourly on the day of surgery and daily for the following 7 days. The average (mean ± standard deviation) maximum pain score over the whole observation period was similar in the test (13.6 ± 13.5) and control (21.0 ± 19.9) groups (P = 0.17). In conclusion, harvesting of a mandibular ramus block and lateral ridge augmentation, in conjunction with the pharmacological protocol described, is characterized by low postoperative pain. Adding PRF membranes to the surgical site generally resulted in slightly lower pain perception, although a statistically significant difference between the test and control groups was only identified on day 1 postoperative.

Latest insights into the hot question of proton pump inhibitor safety - a narrative review

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most widely prescribed medications worldwide and their use is continuously increasing. Although they have been shown to combine high therapeutic efficacy and good safety profile in many studies, in last years we have witnessed the publication of many articles reporting the possible association of long-term PPI therapy with important unexpected adverse events and these observations have created alarmism in both patients and physicians. However, the majority of these studies are observational, retrospective and prone to residual confounding. Also, the odds ratio values are generally comprised between 1 and 2 and therefore devoid of strong clinical relevance. As it is unlikely that prospective randomized trials will be ever done to reinforce these associations, we can only attempt to distinguish clear- from unclear-defined adverse events from the available literature. Nowadays we can reasonably exclude cardiovascular diseases, community-acquired pneumonia, all-cause mortality, dementia and bone fractures from PPI-related adverse events. However, physicians should be aware of the existence of possible risks when treating their patients, especially the elderly and frail ones, with long-term PPIs, which should be prescribed only to persons with defined indications and at lowest dose and duration.

Efficacy of capecitabine when used concomitantly with proton pump inhibitors in cancer patients: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Capectiabine is an oral antineoplastic drug used in multiple malignancies. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) have been proven to interact with other oral antineoplastic agents. In this systematic review we will summarize the clinical evidence on the efficacy of capecitabine when used concomitantly with PPI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search on the main databases up to November 2019.

RESULTS

Nine studies met our inclusion criteria: 8 retrospective studies and 1 phase II clinical trial. Patients with colorectal, breast and gastroesophageal were represented. Four out of the 9 studies reported a shorter efficacy outcome in uni- or multivariate analysis when capecitabine was taken concomitantly with PPI than alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Up to date, the clinical evidence reported on the use of capecitabine concomitantly with PPI is scarce and shows conflicting results. While awaiting further data, avoiding misuse of PPI in cancer patients taking capecitabine is recommended.

Appropriateness of proton pump inhibitors treatment in clinical practice: Prospective evaluation in outpatients and perspective assessment of drug optimisation

BACKGROUND

High rates of inappropriate proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescriptions have been reported in retrospective database analyses. Assessing the appropriateness of long-term PPIs in outpatients, with a proactive approach at drug optimisation may enhance treatment adequacy.

AIMS

To describe the characteristics of outpatients who are on long-term PPIs, to assess the magnitude of inappropriate PPI prescriptions, and to evaluate the rate of drug optimisation following specialist recommendations.

METHODS

Appropriateness of long-term (>8weeks) PPI prescription was prospectively assessed in 249 consecutive patients referred to a Gastroenterology outpatient clinic. We recorded reason for prescription, dose, modality, duration of therapy, and attempts at PPI optimisation.

RESULTS

PPIs were inappropriately prescribed in 96/249 patients (38.6%). Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (50/143, 35.0%) and prophylaxis of anti-platelet/non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (5/49, 10.2%) were the most common PPI indications and those with the lowest rate of inappropriateness, while the highest rates were observed for treatment of dyspepsia (10/12, 83.3%) and anti-coagulant therapy (21/21, 100%). PPI treatment was optimised in 112 patients (45.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

PPIs are inappropriately used in about 40% of outpatients, reflecting scant attention to guidelines. A proactive approach may improve therapeutic adequacy in approximately half of patients. Educational efforts to guide PPI prescription should be further pursued.

The Lyon Consensus: Does It Differ From the Previous Ones?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a complex disorder with heterogeneous symptoms and a multifaceted pathogenetic basis, which prevent a simple diagnostic algorithm or any categorical classification. Clinical history, questionnaires and response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy are insufficient tools to make a conclusive diagnosis of GERD and further investigations are frequently required. The Lyon Consensus goes beyond the previous classifications and defines endoscopic and functional parameters able to establish the presence of GERD. Evidences for reflux include high-grade erosive esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and peptic strictures at endoscopy as well as esophageal acid exposure time > 6% on pH-metry or combined pH-impedance monitoring. Even if a normal endoscopy does not exclude GERD, its combination with distal acid exposure time < 4% on off-PPI pH-impedance monitoring provides sufficient evidence refuting this diagnosis. Reflux-symptom association on pH-monitoring provides supportive evidence for reflux-triggered symptoms and may predict a better treatment outcome, when present. Also recommendations to perform pH-impedance “on” or “off” PPI are well depicted. When endoscopy and pH-metry or combined pH-impedance monitoring are inconclusive, adjunctive evidence from biopsy findings (eg, microscopic esophagitis), high-resolution manometry (ie, ineffective esophagogastric barrier and esophageal body hypomotility), and novel impedance metrics, such as mean nocturnal baseline impedance and post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index, can contribute to better identify patients with GERD. Definition of individual patient phenotype, based on the level of refluxate exposure, mechanism of reflux, efficacy of clearance, underlying anatomy of the esophagogastric junction, and clinical presentation, will lead to manage GERD patients with a tailored approach chosen among different types of therapy.

Clinical and Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Infection in Adult Patients with Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders during the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are chronic gastrointestinal conditions requiring corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy for disease control. Patients with EGIDs usually report impaired quality of life. We aimed to report the clinical and psychological impact of COVID-19 infection in EGID patients. In this prospective web-based study we invited all consecutive EGID patients attending the University Hospital of Salerno (Campania) and Padua (Veneto) to fill an ad hoc COVID-19 survey. Moreover, a telemedicine service for direct consultation was organized. Data regarding the occurrence and perception of COVID-19 infection as well as clinical information were recorded. The study population included 102 EGID patients (mean age 36.6 years, 34 females), of whom 89 had eosinophilic esophagitis, nine had gastroenteritis, and four had colitis. No patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 or had recurrence of his/her primary disease. All of them were adherent to therapy and preventive measures adoption. Most patients were worried because of COVID-19 and social preventing measures but did not consider themselves at major risk or susceptible to COVID-19 or other infections due to their chronic condition or therapy. Female gender and low education level were associated to a higher psychological perception of COVID-19 compared to lockdown status or other demographic and clinical factors (p < 0.05). Overall, COVID-19 had a limited clinical impact on patients with EGIDs. The degree of education and sex, but not the fact of living in a lockdown area, influenced the perception of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Clinical and Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Infection in Adult Patients with Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders during the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are chronic gastrointestinal conditions requiring corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy for disease control. Patients with EGIDs usually report impaired quality of life. We aimed to report the clinical and psychological impact of COVID-19 infection in EGID patients. In this prospective web-based study we invited all consecutive EGID patients attending the University Hospital of Salerno (Campania) and Padua (Veneto) to fill an ad hoc COVID-19 survey. Moreover, a telemedicine service for direct consultation was organized. Data regarding the occurrence and perception of COVID-19 infection as well as clinical information were recorded. The study population included 102 EGID patients (mean age 36.6 years, 34 females), of whom 89 had eosinophilic esophagitis, nine had gastroenteritis, and four had colitis. No patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 or had recurrence of his/her primary disease. All of them were adherent to therapy and preventive measures adoption. Most patients were worried because of COVID-19 and social preventing measures but did not consider themselves at major risk or susceptible to COVID-19 or other infections due to their chronic condition or therapy. Female gender and low education level were associated to a higher psychological perception of COVID-19 compared to lockdown status or other demographic and clinical factors (p < 0.05). Overall, COVID-19 had a limited clinical impact on patients with EGIDs. The degree of education and sex, but not the fact of living in a lockdown area, influenced the perception of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Effects of Voriconazole on the Pharmacokinetics of Vonoprazan in Rats

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of voriconazole on the pharmacokinetics of vonoprazan.

Methods

Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: five rats in each group, including control group, single-dose group (a single dose of 30 mg/kg of voriconazole), and multiple-dose group (multiple doses of 30 mg/(kg•day) per dose of voriconazole). Each group of rats was given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg vonoprazan 30 min after the administration of voriconazole or vehicle. After the oral administration of vonoprazan, 50 µL of blood was collected into 1.5-mL heparinized tubes via the caudal vein. The concentration of vonoprazan in plasma was quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Both in vitro effects of voriconazole on vonoprazan and the mechanism of the observed inhibition were studied in rat liver microsomes.

Results

When orally administered, voriconazole increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), prolonged the elimination half-life (t_1/2), and decreased the clearance (CL) of vonoprazan; there was no significant difference between the single-dose and multiple-dose groups. Voriconazole inhibited the metabolism of vonoprazan at an IC50 of 2.93 μM and showed mixed inhibition. The results of the in vivo experiments were consistent with those of the in vitro experiments.

Conclusion

Our findings provide the evidence of drug-drug interactions between voriconazole and vonoprazan that could occur with pre-administration of voriconazole. Thus, clinicians should pay attention to the resulting changes in pharmacokinetic parameters and accordingly, adjust the dose of vonoprazan in clinical settings.

Human-like collagen promotes the healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats by regulating NOS and growth factors

Human-like collagen (HLC), the collagen produced using fermentation technology, has been demonstrated previously to promote wound healing. However, the healing property of HLC in gastric ulcers remains to be verified. In this study, we investigated the healing efficacy and healing mechanisms of HLC on gastric ulcers. To investigate whether HLC still has healing activity on gastric ulcers after gastric digestion, we simulated gastric digestion in vitro to obtain a human-like collagen digestion product (HLCP) and used it as the control drug. A chronic gastric ulcer model induced by 60% acetic acid in rats was used to evaluate the healing effect of gastric ulcers in this study. The results showed that oral administration of HLC or HLCP for 4 or 7 days promoted ulcer healing, which can be directly observed by significant reductions in ulcer area. The oral administration of HLC and HLCP significantly increased the protein expression of growth factors (EGF, HGF, VEGF, bFGF and TGF-β1) and the HGF receptor (HGFr), promoted collagen deposition, regulated the activity of NOS, and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, il-6, il-10) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in gastric tissue. Moreover, cell experiments showed that the effects of HLC on cell proliferation and migration are mainly caused by its digestion products. These findings indicate that HLC may be used as a nutritional supplement or therapeutic drug to promote the healing of gastric ulcers.

Vonoprazan Fumarate for the Treatment of Gastric Ulcers: A Short Review on Emerging Data

Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), such as vonoprazan, represent a novel and heterogeneous class of drugs that competitively block the potassium binding site of gastric H+/K+ ATPase, thus potentially overcoming the limitations of proton-pump inhibitors. Different studies evaluated the efficacy of vonoprazan versus proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the treatment of acid-related disorders, and, therefore, P-CABs present the same indications of PPIs: gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric and duodenal ulcer healing, management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated ulcers and Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. The aim of this review was to evaluate the role of vonoprazan for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and the management of gastric ulcer occurring after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Indeed, vonoprazan (at the dose of both 10 and 20mg) showed similar results to PPIs in patients taking long-term NSAIDs, in the absence of severe adverse effects, and provided a more rapid and effective treatment of ulcers induced by ESD. However, studies in medical literature are heterogeneous, mainly performed with a retrospective design, and often carried out in Japan only. For these reasons, further prospective, randomized studies are warranted in order to help physicians, patients, and policymakers regarding the use of vonoprazan in clinical practice.

Antiulcerogenic Activity of Li-Zhong Decoction on Duodenal Ulcers Induced by Indomethacin in Rats: Involvement of TLR-2/MyD88 Signaling Pathway

Background

Administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often causes small intestinal ulcers in patients, but few effective drugs are currently available to manage such serious adverse events of NSAIDs. Li-Zhong decoction (LZD), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is commonly prescribed for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-ulcerogenic activity of LZD on indomethacin- (IND-) induced duodenal ulcer in rats. Mechanistic studies of action of LZD were focused on involvement of TLR-2/MyD88 signaling pathway.

Methods

Fifty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly and evenly divided into five groups: normal control, ulcer control (IND, 25 mg/kg), IND + esomeprazole (ESO, 4.17 mg/kg), and IND + low and high doses of LZD (3.75 and 7.50 g/kg). Macroscopic and histopathological examinations were performed for evaluation of ulcer index (UI), curative index (CI), and microscopic score (MS). Levels of duodenal inflammatory biomarkers and cytoprotective mediators including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α (TNF-

Results

Gross and microscopic examinations of the IND-treated rats revealed severe duodenal hemorrhagic necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, villus destruction, and crypt abscess, while LZD-treated rats manifested these pathological events to a markedly lesser degree. LZD significantly decreased UI and MS, increased CI, preserved the integrity of the villus and crypt, and normalized the tissue architecture of the duodenum of rats. The elevated TNF-α (TNF-

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that LZD protects the duodenal mucosa from IND-caused lesions, which is at least partially attributable to the interaction of its potential cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory mechanisms together with enhancement of the mucosal immunity through TLR-2/MyD88 signaling pathway.

Adverse cardiovascular and blood pressure effects of drug-induced hypomagnesemia

Introduction: The objective of this study was to review the current status of drug-induced hypomagnesemia and its adverse effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension. Since magnesium is a potent vasodilator, which modulates vasomotor tone, peripheral blood flow, and hypertension, its deficiency could have significant cardiovascular and blood pressure (BP) effects.Areas covered: Studies have shown that several factors can contribute to magnesium deficiency including age, diet, disease, and certain drugs such as diuretics and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). For an updated perspective of drug-induced hypomagnesemia, a Medline search of the English language literature was conducted between 2010 and 2019 using the terms diuretics, proton-pump inhibitors, hypomagnesemia, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and 35 pertinent papers were retrieved.Expert opinion: The data showed that magnesium deficiency is difficult to occur since it is plentiful in green leafy vegetables, cereals, nuts, and the drinking water. However, magnesium deficiency can occur with the use of diuretics for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure, or the use of PPIs for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Therefore, magnesium deficiency should be detected and treated to prevent the aggravation of hypertension and the onset of CVD and serious cardiac arrhythmias including torsades de points.

Consumption of medicines used for gastric acid-related disorders in Australia and South Korea: a cross-country comparison

PURPOSE

The study's aim was to compare the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine 2-receptor antagonists (H₂RAs) and mucoprotective medicines (MPs) used for gastric acid-related disorders (GARD) in Australia and South Korea (Korea) from 2004 to 2017.

METHODS

Prescription data for PPIs, H₂RAs and MPs for Australian outpatients were extracted from the Australian Statistics on Medicines annual reports, with dose-specific and expenditure data obtained from Medicare. Similar data were obtained from Korean National Health Insurance Service claims data. We analysed the volume and expenditure of medicines use annually using the defined daily dose per 1,000 population per day. We calculated which medicines accounted for 90% of use and estimated the proportions of use for low- and high-dose PPIs.

RESULTS

While total utilisation for GARD medicines increased over time in both countries, patterns of use differed. Overall, use was somewhat higher in Australia but increased more rapidly in Korea. PPIs were used more extensively in Australia, while more MPs and H₂RAs were used in Korea. Expenditure and use of low-dose PPIs is escalating in Korea.

CONCLUSION

There were substantial differences in the use of GARD medicines in Australia and Korea over 14 years. Both countries face similar challenges to promote rational medicines use and contain medical care costs. The discrepant prescribing patterns can be attributed to differences in healthcare systems, pharmaceutical policies and demographics. This study provides a baseline to influence more rational use of these medicines. It provides insight into medicines policies for other countries that face similar challenges.

Educational Intervention Improves Proton Pump Inhibitor Stewardship in Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinics

Background

Improper chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has risen significantly in the last few decades. In our gastroenterology trainees’ clinics, we aimed to optimize PPI usage.

Methods

We collected baseline data on patients’ PPI use for 8 weeks. Based on gastroenterology society guidelines, we determined conditions for appropriate PPI use. If the indication could not be determined, it was categorized as “unknown”. Generated from the three most frequent causes for inappropriate PPI use, interventions were developed to correct each issue. Following a brief educational session, trainees implemented these interventions over a subsequent 8-week interval.

Results

During our pre-intervention period, trainees evaluated 263 patients who were prescribed a PPI. In 49% of the cases, the use of PPI was deemed inappropriate. The most common reasons were: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which was never titrated to the lowest effective dose, twice daily dosing for Barrett’s esophagus (BE) chemoprevention and unknown indication. During our intervention period, trainees evaluated 145 patients prescribed a PPI for GERD with well-controlled symptoms in 101 cases. PPI had not been titrated to lowest effective dose in 37 cases prompting intervention which was successful in 23 cases. PPI indication was unknown in 17 cases prompting a message to the prescribing provider to review appropriateness. Two cases of BE chemoprevention with twice daily dosing were appropriately reduced to daily dosing. Ultimately, after intervention, PPI use was deemed appropriate after intervention in 172 (77%) cases.

Conclusions

Improper chronic PPI use was significant. Focusing intervention efforts on PPI use for GERD, BE and unknown indications substantially increased appropriateness of PPI use.

Strategy to Improve Efficiency of Comprehensive Medication Reviews in a Community Pharmacy

Background: Comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) provide opportunities for pharmacists to perform clinical services to their patients. However, pharmacists are often not able to perform CMRs due to time constraints. Studies have shown that incorporating support staff into the CMR workflow may lead to increases in the completion of CMRs. Objective: The primary objective was to examine the change in the number of CMRs completed at the pharmacy after a new strategy was implemented to perform and prepare for CMRs. The secondary objective was to examine the changes in the revenue generated from CMRs. Methods: This study was a pre-post retrospective, observational study performed at an independent pharmacy. Data were collected and analyzed 10 months before and after implementation of a new strategy. The new strategy called for pharmacy interns to use a template for working up patients prior to CMRs. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were run on IBM SPSS, Version 24.0, to determine the significance of the changes. Results that generated P values <.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The total number of CMRs completed increased from 29 before the intervention to 158 after the intervention (P = .009). The revenue generated from CMRs improved statistically (P = .007). Conclusions: Implementing a strategic workflow that uses pharmacy interns and a patient workup template can significantly increase the number of CMRs completed in a community pharmacy. Appropriate delegation of such tasks may allow more time for pharmacists to deliver more CMRs. Additional benefits include increased compensation from delivering more CMRs.

Proton pump inhibitor use increases hepatic encephalopathy risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several studies have been conducted to explore the association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) risk in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, their results are controversial.

AIM

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the HE risk among PPI users.

METHODS

A systematic search on PubMed, Web of Science, EMBase, and ScienceDirect databases was conducted up to December 31, 2018 for eligible studies involving PPI use and HE risk. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the fixed or random effects model. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg’s test, Egger’s test, and trim-and-fill method.

RESULTS

Seven studies with 4574 patients were included in the present meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results indicated a significant association between the PPI use and HE risk (OR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.25-1.75) with low heterogeneity (I² = 14.2%, P = 0.321). Although publication bias existed when Egger’s tests were used (P = 0.005), the trim-and-fill method verified the stability of the pooled result. Sensitivity analyses suggested that the results of this meta-analysis were robust.

CONCLUSION

The current evidence indicates that PPI use increases HE risk in patients with liver cirrhosis. Further studies with a large data set and well-designed models are needed to validate our findings.

Proton pump inhibitor-induced hypomagnesemia complicated with serious cardiac arrhythmias

Introduction: Magnesium is the third most common intracellular ion after potassium and calcium and is an important element in the functions of the body, since it participates in more than 300 enzyme systems. It also, plays a significant role in the transport of calcium and potassium across the cell membranes and protects against cardiac arrhythmias and is useful for their treatment due to hypomagnesemia induced from the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Areas covered: PPIs are used for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but have been associated with hypomagnesemia with serious cardiac arrhythmias including torsades de pointes (TdP). To better understand the magnitude of this problem, a Medline search of the English language literature was conducted from 2010 to 2018 and 35 papers with pertinent information were selected. Expert commentary: The review of these papers suggests that PPIs cause hypomagnesemia, which could be associated with serious cardiac arrhythmias including TdP. However, its incidence is not very common considering the millions of people taking PPIs, but the FDA has advised the physicians to be watchful about this serious adverse effect of PPIs and check the magnesium levels before initiation of PPI treatment.