A Study on the Status of Proton Pump Inhibitor Prescriptions Using Diagnosis Procedure Combination Data in Japan.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for the management of acid-related diseases. This study aimed to clarify the status of PPI use in hospitalized patients.

METHOD: A retrospective observational study was performed. We analyzed PPI prescription data for the past 8 years (2009-2016) using Diagnosis Procedure Combination survey data from approximately 10,000 patients per year at Saga University Hospital. We investigated the trend in the number of hospitalized patients who were prescribed PPI for the past 8 years and the changes in patient characteristics.

RESULTS

We identified 11,009 patients using PPIs throughout the study period. PPI prescription proportions significantly increased over the study period. The use of PPIs increased steadily with increasing age. The proportion of PPIs prescribed was 1.3-times higher among men than compared with women. In most clinical departments, the number of patients prescribed PPIs was up to 3 times higher in the second half of the period (2013-2016) compared with the first half of the period (2009-2012). The number of patients taking concomitant PPIs and anticoagulants or dual antithrombotic combination therapy increased.

CONCLUSION

PPI use has increased substantially in hospitalized patients. The prevalence of PPI prescription by doctors other than gastroenterologists also increased.