Impact of adherence to concomitant gastroprotective therapy on nonsteroidal-related gastroduodenal ulcer complications.
OBJECTIVE
The clinical impact of nonadherence to gastroprotective agents (GPAs) coprescribed with anti-inflammatory therapies has not been evaluated. In a large, commercial, managed-care database, we retrospectively characterized the use of GPAs among patients receiving nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ns-NSAIDs) or cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors (coxibs) and determined the impact of nonadherence on the likelihood of gastroduodenal ulcer complications.


METHODS
Analyses identified the populations of patients with concomitant histamine-2 receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy and determined adherence with the prescribed therapy with respect to the duration of anti-inflammatory treatment. Multivariate regression analyses modeled the association between adherence with concomitant protective therapy and the likelihood of upper gastrointestinal (GI) complications including peptic ulcer disease, ulcer, and/or upper-GI bleed.


RESULTS
Among 144,203 patients newly prescribed anti-inflammatory therapies, 1.8% received concomitant GPA treatment (ns-NSAIDs, 1.4% vs coxibs, 2.6%; P < .0001). The likelihood of GPA use increased with the presence of risk factors: age older than 65 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-1.5) and prior history of peptic ulcer disease (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.8-3.3), esophagitis/gastroesophageal reflux (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 3.5-4.1), ulcer/upper-GI bleed (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.5), or gastritis (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 2.2-2.8). Of patients receiving concomitant PPI therapy, 68% had adherence rates of 80% or more. A significantly higher risk of upper-GI ulcers/complications was observed in ns-NSAID patients with adherence rates of less than 80% compared with adherence rates of 80% or more (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0-5.6), but no such relationship was observed among patients who took coxibs.


CONCLUSIONS
Few patients receive concomitant GPA therapy when prescribed anti-inflammatory treatment, although use increased with the presence of risk factors. Adherence to concomitant therapy is paramount to reducing GI events among ns-NSAID users and educational efforts should be undertaken to promote use of and adherence to GPA therapy among these patients.
Goldstein
Jay L
JL
Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. jlgoldst@uic.edu
Howard
Kimberly B
KB
Walton
Surrey M
SM
McLaughlin
Trent P
TP
Kruzikas
Denise T
DT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D012307:Risk Factors; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D020011:Protective Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors