Decreasing Inappropriate Use of Antireflux Medications by Standardizing Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Management in NICU

Infant gastroesophageal reflux disease management consensus

AIM

Infant gastroesophageal reflux is mostly benign; however, when associated with complications like failure to thrive, it may be indicative of gastroesophageal reflux disease. There are currently several unmet needs pertaining to the management of infant gastroesophageal reflux (disease). Reflux in infants is mostly composed of breast milk or formula, so this population is significantly different to older children and adults. The objective of this Delphi consensus was to establish recommendations based on published literature and the experience of clinical experts in paediatric gastroenterology in the context of infant gastroesophageal reflux (disease).

METHODS

The Delphi methodology was used to obtain a consensus on 18 statements relating to clinical aspects of infant gastroesophageal reflux (disease).

RESULTS

The expert panel comprising paediatric gastroenterology clinical specialists reached a consensus for all statements by means of an online, anonymised voting system.

CONCLUSION

It was highlighted that there is generally low awareness of or adherence to guidelines in clinical practice and that acid suppression therapy should not be indicated for non-acid reflux, which constitutes a significant proportion of total gastroesophageal reflux episodes among infants. Furthermore, it was emphasised that there is an unmet medical need for therapy for some symptomatic infants with non-acid reflux disease.

Using Quality Improvement to Improve Value and Reduce Waste

Value is defined as health outcomes achieved per dollar spent. Addressing value in quality improvement (QI) efforts can help optimize patient outcomes while reducing unnecessary spending. In this article, we discuss how QI focused on reducing morbidities frequently reduces costs, and how proper cost accounting can help demonstrate improvements in value. We provide examples of high-yield opportunities for value improvement in neonatology and review the literature associated with these topics. Opportunities include reducing neonatal intensive care admissions for low-acuity infants, sepsis evaluations in low-risk infants, unnecessary total parental nutrition use, and utilization of laboratory and imaging.

Anti-reflux medication use in preterm infants

BACKGROUND

Current recommendations do not support the use of anti-reflux medications to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) among preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of GORD and the use of anti-reflux medications amongst very preterm infants (<32 weeks' gestational age (GA)) in neonatal units in England and Wales.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study using the National Neonatal Research Database.

RESULTS

Among 58,108 infants [median GA (IQR) 29 (27-30) weeks], 15.8% (n = 9191) had a diagnosis of GORD and 36.9% (n = 12,446) received anti-reflux medications. Those who received anti-reflux medications were more preterm [GA, median (IQR): medications, 28 (26-30) vs. no medications, 30 (28-31); p < 0.001] and had lower birth weight [mean (SD): medications, 1124 g (354) vs. no medications, 1265 g (384); p < 0.001]. Most (57%, n = 12,224) received Gaviscon, or Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist (H2RA) (56%, n = 11,959). Over time, prokinetic use has declined substantially, the use of H2RAs and Gaviscon has reduced although they continue to be used frequently, whilst the use of PPIs has increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-reflux medications are frequently prescribed in very preterm infants, despite evidence to suggest that they are not effective and may be harmful. Clear guidelines for diagnosing GORD and the use of anti-reflux medications are required to rationalise the pharmacological management of GORD in preterm infants.

IMPACT

Anti-reflux medications are frequently prescribed, often without a diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, to very preterm infants while in the neonatal unit and at discharge. Half of the infants born at <28 weeks' gestational age receive anti-reflux medications in hospital and a quarter are discharged home on them. Although the use of prokinetics declined following alerts of adverse events, histamine2-receptor antagonists and alginates such as Gaviscon continue to be used and the use of proton-pump inhibitors has increased more than 2-fold.