Underutilization of gastroprotection for at-risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: Spain compared with the United States.
BACKGROUND
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the preferred agents for the prevention of aspirin-associated upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). Data are limited to determine whether PPIs are being used to reduce UGIB risk.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the implementation of PPI treatment to reduce the GI risk in two cardiology centres from Europe and the United States.


METHODS
A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at the University of Michigan and University Hospital-Zaragoza in 429 consecutive patients hospitalized for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on dual antiplatelet therapy.


RESULTS
Admission for PPI co-therapy was similar (34% vs. 30%) in both centres. At discharge, the proportion of high-risk patients receiving PPI therapy in the Spanish centre (75.4%) was higher than their American peers (55.6%) (OR: 2.5; 95% CI; 1.3-4.7). No differences in PPI prescription rates were found among Spanish patients with/without GI risk factors. The opportunity to initiate PPI co-therapy in high-risk patients was missed in 81.8% (36/44) of those not on PPI at admission in US patients vs. 24.1% (19/79) (P < 0.0001) in Spanish patients.


CONCLUSIONS
There are important differences concerning PPI prescription and risk stratification in the two centres when managing PCI patients. Efforts to stratify risks and utilize appropriate strategies for UGIB prophylaxis in high-risk patients are warranted.
Casado-Arroyo
R
R
University Hospital Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain.
Scheiman
J M
JM
Polo-Tomas
M
M
Saini
S D
SD
Del Rio
A
A
Guastello
E
E
Lanas
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin