Inadequate prescription of chronic consumption of proton pump inhibitors in a hospital in Mexico. Cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION PPIs have been an enormous therapeutic advance in acid-related diseases. However, it has been detected an abuse in its consumption. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of inadequate prescription of chronic use of PPIs in outpatients in a speciality hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS we performed a cross-sectional descriptive study review. The study population were patients, chronic users of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), attending outpatient consult in a hospital of government workers. We defined as chronic user of PPIs that patient that takes medication daily for over a year and inappropriate prescription, that one that has not been approved by the clinical guidelines. A simple random sampling was utilized. The following parameters were investigated: diagnosis and prescription of PPIs, time of use, at which level of care PPIs were prescribed (primary care or specialist), self-medication, with or without endoscopy. Forthe statistical analysis, we used Student´s t-test and Chi-square, 95 % confidence intervals and significance 0.05 %. RESULTS we reviewed 153 patients, 40 (26.1 %) men and 113 (73.9 %) women, mean age 58 ± 11.4 years. The prescription of chronic treatment with PPIs was adequate in 64.7 % of patients and inadequate in 35.3 %. The most common appropriate prescription (31.3 %) of chronic use of PPIs was due to gastroesophageal reflux disease. The most common inadequate prescription was absence of diagnosis (22.2 %), polypharmacy without nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (16.6 %) and chronic gastritis (16.6 %). History of endoscopy were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS the frequency of inappropriate prescriptions of chronic use of PPIs was high, around 35.3 %, similar to those reported in hospitals in developed countries.