title: Patient-reported adherence to coprescribed proton pump inhibitor gastroprotection in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis patients using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are commonly treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sometimes with a concomitant gastroprotective proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The present study examines real-life patient adherence to PPIs when coprescribed with NSAIDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective medical record survey identified patients diagnosed with OA, RA, or AS who had PPIs coprescribed with NSAIDs for prevention of NSAID-associated gastrointestinal ulcers. Actual NSAID and PPI intake was retrospectively recorded using a self-reported questionnaire. Adherence to PPI treatment was assessed using descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 96 patients (69% female, mean age 67 years, 72% OA, 16% RA, 12% AS) were included. The mean patient-reported adherence to coprescribed PPIs was 73%-81%. The percentage of patients with a self-reported adherence of ≤80% was 26%. No predictive factors for low adherence could be identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite doctors' instructions to use PPIs concomitantly with NSAIDs, the mean patient-reported adherence to coprescribed PPIs in this population indicates a risk of a "gastroprotective treatment gap". The patients' adherence to gastroprotective PPIs for the prevention of NSAID-associated upper gastrointestinal ulcers can be improved.
authors.affiliation: Reuma City, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henriksson
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca Nordic-Baltic, Södertälje, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: From
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca Nordic-Baltic, Södertälje, Sweden.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stratelis
keywords: gastroprotection; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; osteoarthritis; patient adherence; proton pump inhibitors; self-reported questionnaires