title: Risk factors associated with uncomplicated peptic ulcer and changes in medication use after diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few epidemiologic studies have investigated predictors of uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease (PUD) separately from predictors of complicated PUD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze risk factors associated with uncomplicated PUD and medication use after diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with uncomplicated PUD (n = 3,914) were identified from The Health Improvement Network database among individuals aged 40-84 years during 1997-2005, with no previous history of PUD. Prescription records for the year after the date of diagnosis were reviewed and a nested case-control analysis was performed to calculate the odds ratios for the association of potential risk factors with PUD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medications associated with developing uncomplicated PUD included current use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants, antihypertensives or acid suppressants. Uncomplicated PUD was significantly associated with being a current or former smoker and having had a score of at least 3 on the Townsend deprivation index. Approximately 50% of patients who were users of ASA (19% of patients) or chronic users of NSAIDs (7% of patients) at diagnosis did not receive another prescription of the medication in the 60 days after diagnosis, and 30% were not represcribed therapy within a year. Among patients who were current users of ASA or chronic NSAIDs at the time of the PUD diagnosis and received a subsequent prescription for their ASA or NSAID during the following year, the vast majority (80-90%) also received a proton pump inhibitor coprescription.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that several risk factors for upper gastrointestinal bleeding are also predictors of uncomplicated PUD, and that some patients do not restart therapy with ASA or NSAIDs after a diagnosis of uncomplicated PUD. Further investigation is needed regarding the consequences for these patients in terms of increased cardiovascular burden due to discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy.
authors.affiliation: The Spanish Centre for Pharmacoepidemiologic Research (CEIFE), Madrid, Spain; Andalusian Bioinformatics Research Centre (CAEBi), Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Pérez
authors.affiliation: The Spanish Centre for Pharmacoepidemiologic Research (CEIFE), Madrid, Spain; Andalusian Bioinformatics Research Centre (CAEBi), Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sáez
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Saga
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: The Spanish Centre for Pharmacoepidemiologic Research (CEIFE), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: García Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin