title: The use of prophylactic gastroprotective therapy in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug- and aspirin-associated ulcer bleeding: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor adherence to gastroprotective agents (GPAs) is common among users of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or low-dose aspirin (ASA). There are little data on the utilization of GPAs among NSAID and ASA users complicated by ulcer bleeding.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the utilization of GPA among NSAID and ASA ulcers before the onset of ulcer bleeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the exposure to NSAIDs, ASA, and GPAs within 4 weeks before endoscopically confirmed ulcer bleeding. Sensitivity analysis was performed to study how improving adherence to GPA use would reduce the risk of ulcer bleeding in high-risk users.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2000 and 2009, 1093 and 2277 patients had NSAID- and ASA-associated ulcer bleeding respectively. The incidence of NSAID-associated ulcer bleeding declined by 40%, whereas that of ASA-associated ulcer bleeding increased by 46%. Thirty-nine per cent of NSAID users and 75% of ASA users belonged to high ulcer risk category. Although GPA prescription rate has increased over time, only 41.6% and 30.6% of high-risk NSAID and ASA users received GPAs before ulcer bleeding respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that if GPAs could reduce bleeding risk by 50%, improving adherence would prevent up to 35% of ulcer bleeding in high-risk users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of high-risk NSAID and ASA users had not received prophylaxis with gastroprotective agents before ulcer bleeding. These bleeding episodes may be preventable with better adherence to gastroprotective agent use.
authors: Institute of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: C W
authors: CW
authors: Ho
authors: Y K
authors: YK
authors: Tse
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Wu
authors: C J J
authors: CJ
authors: Mulder
authors: F K L
authors: FK
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2; D016595:Misoprostol; D001241:Aspirin