Prescribing pattern of acid suppressive medications for medical inpatients in a teaching hospital in Qatar

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prescribing pattern of acid suppressive medications ASMs in medical inpatients in a teaching hospital in Qatar, and compare this with the American Food and Drug Administration approved indications, and published data.

METHODS: This study is based on a review of the patient's medical records for the usage of ASMs, namely, histamine-2 receptor antagonists H2RAs, and proton pump inhibitors PPIs in patients admitted consecutively to the medical wards of Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar from May through June 2007. The review included the type of ASM used, timing of prescription before, or during admission, risk factors for ulcer development, and indication for use. Records for patients using ASMs after discharge without justified indication were assessed 2 months later.

RESULTS: A total of 389 patients were admitted, 206 53% received ASMs during their hospital stay, 48 12% of them were taking ASMs before admission. One hundred and eighty-four patients 89% received PPI, and 22 11% received H2RA. During admission, the usage of ASMs was justified in 70 34% patients. One hundred and twenty-nine 63% received ASMs after discharge, the usage of which was justified in only 59 46% patients. From the 70 patients receiving ASMs after discharge for unjustified indications, 30 43% patients were re-prescribed with ASMs, 2 months or more after discharge.

CONCLUSION: Acid suppressive medications are prescribed in the majority of these patients without justified indication. Moreover, many of them continued their ASMs for at least 2 months after discharge.