Assessing the use of proton pump inhibitors in an internal medicine department

INTRODUCTION: proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) block the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme in gastric wall cells, leading to an inhibition of both baseline and stimulated acid secretion. Appropriate indications include: Gastroesophageal reflux, acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, erosive gastritis or esophagitis, dyspepsia, NSAID-related gastropathy, and stress ulcer prophylaxis in high risk patients. The aims of this study were to review the current indications of PPIs, and to evaluate their use in Guadalajara s University Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a transversal, analytic, randomized study was carried out during 2003 in our internal medicine department. A total of 208 medical records for 832 patients receiving PPIs were reviewed (25%). Mean age was 67 years (range: 16-92), 46.2% were females, and most frequent conditions were HBP, COPD, and DM. RESULTS: 34.6% of patients took PPIs before admission, their use being inappropriate in 68.1% of them. Among hospitalized patients 73.03% used PPIs inappropriately, and most of them had no such indication at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: results are in accordance with the literature, with a high frequency of incorrect PPI use; a more accurate use of PPIs is to be recommended to avoid side effects and drug interactions, and to provide a more efficient medical care.