Abstract

VALLEJOS N, Álvaro et al. Descriptive Analysis of Transactional Database Date on the Use of Gastroprotective Drugs in Patients With Polypharmacy in a Colombian Population. Rev Col Gastroenterol [online]. 2016, vol.31, n.2, pp.102-110. ISSN 0120-9957.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe and analyze patterns of use of prescription ulcer drugs, factors associated with prescriptions by physicians, and costs for outpatients With polypharmacy at a Colombian healthcare promotion entity (EPS) over a six-month period. Methodology: This is a retrospective and descriptive cross-sectional study based on electronic records of drugs prescribed to 2,458,447 outpatient members. Patients who took five or more  prescription drugs per month were included. Patient were excluded if their records in the transactional data were not complete enough for analysis. Associations between anti-ulcer drugs and factors justifying their prescription were evaluated by the odds ratio (OR) which was calculated from a logistic regression model.  Results: Of the 2,458,447 affiliates of the EPS, on average 60,671 patients had polypharmacy each month: 40% used anti-ulcer drugs and 70% used gastro-damaging drugs. Of the gastroprotected patients, 47% were elderly and 12% had associated diagnoses of upper gastrointestinal risk. Gastroprotection was not justified in 35% of patients with polypharmacy. This represents 75 million Colombian pesos every month. There was no statistical association between prescription of anti-ulcer drugs and factors that justify their prescription (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.27). Conclusion: Given the lack of association between prescription of anti-ulcer drugs and factors which justify such prescriptions, it is likely that prescriptions contribute to polypharmacy per se. We recommended optimizing gastroprotection by reserving it for patients with more than one gastrointestinal lesion and with upper gastrointestinal risks whether or not they have polypharmacy

Keywords : Polypharmacy; antiulcer; proton-pump inhibitor; NSAIDs; elderly.

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