Using an algorithm to assess the rate and trend over time of inappropriate proton pump inhibitors prescription upon hospital discharge

Background: There is an increasing interest in inappropriate proton pump inhibitors prescription (InPPIp), as defined by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Aims: To evaluate the rate, trend over time and factors associated with InPPIp upon discharge from internal medicine departments. Methods: We evaluated patients discharged from internal medicine departments with a PPI prescription in 2014 and 2017 at an academic referral center according to a developed algorithm. Results: A total of 3,982 patients were included (50.8% women, 74% ≥ 65 years). The rate of InPPIp was 44.3% (95% CI 42.8–45.9) for the entire cohort; 68.1% for subjects aged < 65 years and 36.0% for those aged ≥ 65 years (p<0.001); 43.2% in 2014 and 45.6% in 2017 (p = 0.130). In a decision-tree analysis, after the exclusion of 448 patients with gastrointestinal indications, 89.4% (1,580/1,766) of all InPPIp cases were of patients without dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) and 8.6% (151/1,766) were of patients younger than 65 years, who were taking aspirin. Conclusions: The rate of InPPIp is high, especially among patients not receiving DAPT and young patients taking aspirin. Time trend analysis showed no improvement over time. Our algorithm may serve as an automated quality measuring tool to reduce InPPIp.