Evaluation of Appropriate Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Non-critically Ill Patients in Tertiary Medical Center: A Retrospective Study

Background: There are concerns about indiscriminate prescriptions and the inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) without any clear indications, especially among noncritically hospitalized patients. Objective: This study aimed to characterize PPI prescriptions among non-critically hospitalized patients in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital between June and August 2021. The data of adult patients who received PPIs on hospital admission in the medical and surgical wards were collected and analyzed for appropriateness based on the current international guidelines and recommendations. Results: A total of 174 patient records were included in this study. The proportion of patients with appropriate and inappropriate PPI prescriptions was 67.24% (n=117) and 32.76% (n=57), respectively. Female patients (risk=50.00%, 95% CI: 36.89-63.11, p<0.001) were more likely to receive an inappropriate PPI prescription than their male counterparts (risk=33.33%, 95% CI: 24.56-43.43, p<0.001). Intravenous omeprazole 40 mg once daily was the most frequently prescribed PPI (n=62). The hospital length of stay differed significantly between the groups of patients who received appropriate and inappropriate PPIs (24.56 +/- 47.14 vs. 13.50 +/- 13.84; t=2.34, 95% CI: 1.72-20.4; p=0.02). However, there was no significant difference in the total therapy duration in both the groups (3.76 +/- 2.50 vs. 4.75 +/- 3.32, t=-1.62, 95%CI: -1.79-0.17; p=0.11). Conclusion: The findings show a high trend of inappropriate PPI prescriptions. Hence, educational programs are recommended to encourage healthcare professionals to stick to the approved guidelines when prescribing PPIs.