title: Time trends in gastroparesis treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While delayed emptying is the defining criterion for gastroparesis, prokinetics often only have a limited impact on symptoms and have been associated with potentially serious adverse effects. The goal of this study was to determine how this information and regulatory changes affected gastroparesis management.
  
  
  METHODS
  The electronic medical records of patients seen between 2003 and 2012 in the outpatient clinic of a large tertiary center were retrieved based on the billing diagnosis of gastroparesis. Demographic, clinical, and survival data were abstracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 709 patients were identified, with diabetes (21.2 %) and prior surgery (9.8 %) being the most common identifiable causes. The majority of patients (56 %) had idiopathic gastroparesis. The cohort was female predominant (79.5 %) with an average age of 45.4 ± 0.6 years. At the index encounter, 61.8 % received prokinetics. About one-third (37.7 %) used antiemetics at least intermittently. Between 2003 and 2012, prokinetic use dropped from 81 to 43 %, while the use of antiemetics increased from 14 to 41 %. Similarly, there was a significant increase in prescribed opioids and antidepressants. During the period of the study, 44 patients (6.2 %) died. Increasing age, a higher comorbidity burden, anxiety, and medication use were associated with higher mortality risks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This large outpatient cohort suggests that treatment trends move away from prokinetics and focus on symptom-oriented therapy and/or confounding mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dudekula
authors.forename: Shiraz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bielefeldt
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents