[Validity of proton pump inhibitors' prescriptions in a department of internal medicine].
BACKGROUND
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are an efficient therapy, being widely used by physicians. In 2004, cost of PPIs' therapy was as high as 748 millions of euros (for The Caisse primaire d'Assurance Maladie) in France. Although validated indications of PPIs are well known, numerous un-necessary prescriptions of PPIs are common. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate PPIs' prescriptions of patients in a department of internal medicine.


METHODS
This is a 12-week assessment of medical charts of patients, receiving PPI therapy in patients in our department of internal medicine. Data were collected by a standardized questionnaire, with regards to: PPIs' nature and regimen, PPIs' indications as well as duration of therapy.


RESULTS
The medical charts of 729 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 67 years, were collected. Two hundred (and) twenty-four patients (30.7%) received PPI therapy; 157 of these patients were given PPI before admission in our department. Omeprazole was used in 71% of patients. Duration of PPI therapy was over one year in 45% of cases. Thirty-five per cent of family physicians' PPI prescription were validated and 23.8% of those of physicians working in the department of internal medicine. The main non-conform PPI's indications, by family physicians and internists were as follows: prevention of hemorrhagic risk of anti-platelet agent (21 vs 16.4%), anticoagulant (17.8 vs 16.4%), steroids (8.3 vs 13.4%) or non-steroid anti-inflammatory therapy without risk factor (1.9 vs 9%). Finally, in patients receiving PPI therapy before admission, this therapy was maintained in 76% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This prospective study confirms the frequent prescription of PPI therapy in a department of internal medicine (31% of patients). It also underscores the importance of PPIs' use by family physicians and physicians working in a department of internal medicine; this series further highlights the difficulties to interrupt this well tolerated therapy. To date, PPI therapy should be prescribed with a cautious consideration of cost and benefit.
Marie
I
I
Département de médecine interne, CHU de Rouen-Boisguillaume, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen cedex, France. isabelle.marie@chu-rouen.fr
Moutot
A
A
Tharrasse
A
A
Hellot
M-F
MF
Robaday
S
S
Hervé
F
F
Lévesque
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000191:economics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D017494:Proton Pumps