Prescribing pattern of acid suppressive medications for medical inpatients in a teaching hospital in Qatar.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prescribing pattern of acid suppressive medications (ASMs) in medical inpatients in a teaching hospital in Qatar, and compare this with the American Food and Drug Administration approved indications, and published data.


METHODS
This study is based on a review of the patient's medical records for the usage of ASMs, namely, histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients admitted consecutively to the medical wards of Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar from May through June 2007. The review included the type of ASM used, timing of prescription (before, or during admission), risk factors for ulcer development, and indication for use. Records for patients using ASMs after discharge without justified indication were assessed 2 months later.


RESULTS
A total of 389 patients were admitted, 206 (53%) received ASMs during their hospital stay, 48 (12%) of them were taking ASMs before admission. One hundred and eighty-four patients (89%) received PPI, and 22 (11%) received H2RA. During admission, the usage of ASMs was justified in 70 (34%) patients. One hundred and twenty-nine (63%) received ASMs after discharge, the usage of which was justified in only 59 (46%) patients. From the 70 patients receiving ASMs after discharge for unjustified indications, 30 (43%) patients were re-prescribed with ASMs, 2 months or more after discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
Acid suppressive medications are prescribed in the majority of these patients without justified indication. Moreover, many of them continued their ASMs for at least 2 months after discharge.
Khudair
Imran F
IF
Department of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy Services, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Sadik
Nagham D
ND
Hanssens
Yolande I
YI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011780:Qatar
D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors