Prevention of NSAID gastropathy in elderly patients. An observational study in general practice and nursing homes

Objectives: the objectives of this study were to (i) survey the risk factors for NSAID gastropathy in outpatients (elderly patients in the community), compared to those living in old people's homes or nursing homes, (ii) study the prescription of medication prophylaxis during use of NSAIDs conform the current national guidelines and (iii) survey the influence on gastrointestinal symptoms and safety of pantoprazole 20 mg as prophylaxis for NSAID gastropathy. Methods: patients over 65 years of age, using an NSAID without prophylaxis or newly starting NSAlD treatment were included in the study. Pantoprazole 20 mg was prescribed as prophylaxis. Patients using an NSAID with prophylaxis being a proton pump inhibitor at the first visit were registered for epidemiological reasons. Demographic data, risk factors, gastrointestinal complaints, and adverse events were collected at t = 0, t = 2 weeks, t = 3 months and t = 6 months. Differences between groups were analysed with Chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests; changes in time in GI symptoms were tested using Wilcoxon signed ranks tests and McNemar tests. Results: one hundred eighty one general practitioners (treating outpatients and patients in old people's homes) and five nursing home physicians participated in the study and a total of 615 patients were included (522 patients treated by general practitioners (GP) and 93 patients in nursing homes). Four hundred thirty two patients were using NSAIDs without prophylaxis or started using an NSAID at the first visit; 269 (62.1%) and 163 (37.9%) patients respectively. 65.3% of the outpatients (224 out of 343) did not receive indicated prophylaxis, versus 76.2% (16 out of 21) in old people's homes and 42.6% in nursing homes (29 out of 69) (P<0.001). Patients in nursing homes had more risk factors for gastrointestinal complications (2.94 +/- 1.3 versus 1.77 +/- 0.9) than outpatients. More patients using an NSAID prior to the study complained of gastrointestinal symptoms compared to new users (P<0.001). This seems to indicate that NSAIDs caused these symptoms. After 2 weeks of treatment with pantoprazole, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Moreover, both groups showed improvement in complaints (P<0.001). Only nine patients in the study population (3.1%) reported mild adverse events (e.g. nausea, headache) with an average of 1.1 adverse events per patient. Five patients (1% of the included population) died during the study period, but there was no relation to the NSAID or pantoprazole. Discussion and Conclusion: patients in nursing homes had more risk factors for NSAID gastropathy than patients in old people's homes or outpatients (>65 years). Although in nursing homes co-prescription of prophylaxis during NSAID use is more common, in general the Dutch guidelines on adequate NSAID use are still not fully implemented at this moment. The results also showed that pantoprazole was effective in diminishing gastrointestinal complaints, as wen as preventing symptomatic NSAID gastropathy. Moreover, pantoprazole showed to be a safe and well-tolerated drug in our treatment group.