Trend analysis of proton pump inhibitor consumption and expenditure: The real-world evidence.

INTRODUCTION: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) constitute a widely utilized pharmaceutical class, frequently associated with notable instances of therapeutic inappropriateness. Such patterns of misuse not only contribute to elevated healthcare expenditure, but may also exacerbate clinical conditions in certain patients. METHODS: A comprehensive analysis was conducted between 2019 and 2023 to assess all prescriptions dispensed using the Anatomical, Therapeutic and Chemical (ATC) classification system, which allowed trends among primary PPIs to be visualized. This was achieved by calculating the defined daily dose (DDD) and then defining the total expenditure incurred on these drugs. RESULTS: With regard to the prescription of PPIs, an upward trend in consumption was observed with a decreasing expenditure, due to the phenomena of drug generics and increased competition between pharmaceutical companies, ranging from €9,512,481.22 in the first six months of 2019 to €8,509,820.80 in the first six months of 2023. From 2019 to 2023, consumption increased by approximately 3 million DDDs for a total ranging from 18,483,167.59 DDDs to 21,480,871.00 DDDs. Pantoprazole and esomeprazole, the most expensive drugs compared to omeprazole, rabeprazole and lansoprazole, accounted for 61.4% of therapies in the first six months of 2023, up from 2019, where these two drugs were prescribed 54.9%. CONCLUSION: Within this analysis, we provide an illustrative representation of the prescribing trends for PPIs within a European context. Omeprazole, rabeprazole and lansoprazole appear to be the cheapest drugs compared to pantoprazole and esomeprazole. However, the results show that the most widely used PPIs, despite their therapeutic equivalence, are precisely the high-cost ones, thus generating higher expenditure for central governments.

Enzymatic synthesis of pharmacologically relevant chiral sulfoxides by improved CbBVMO variants.

Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) are able to catalyse the asymmetric oxidation of sulfides. This property has made them attractive catalysts for the synthesis of chiral sulfoxide drugs. Here, we have designed and synthesised an exhaustive combinatorial mutant library of the previously identified lansoprazole sulfide monooxygenase CbBVMOV1. From this synthetic combinatorial mutant library, the best mutant, CbBVMOV3, was selected with a specific activity of approximately 1 U mg-1 for lansoprazole sulfoxides. We then optimised the reaction conditions of a two-phase system, achieving the enzymatic asymmetric synthesis of (R)-lansoprazole in a space-time yield of 213 g L-1 d-1 and an enantiomeric excess of >99% (R) with no detectable by-products. In addition, CbBVMOV3 showed higher activity towards other prazole sulfides. These results indicate the potential application of CbBVMO in the chiral sulfoxide drug industry.

Trends in prescribing volumes and costs of proton pump inhibitors in three outpatient specialties: a three-year retrospective study in a tertiary hospital in Thailand.

OBJECTIVES: The study determined a comparative three-year trend in prescribing volumes and costs of proton pump inhibitors in three outpatient specialties of a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Prescription data for three consecutive fiscal years (2016-2018) were extracted from a tertiary hospital electronic database, for the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and orthopaedic outpatient specialties. The data collected were individual proton pump inhibitors, overall and individual prescribing volumes (capsule/tablet) and costs, stratified by specialty and fiscal year. KEY FINDINGS: Of the three specialties, the largest volume of proton pump inhibitor prescriptions, mostly for omeprazole, comes from the orthopaedic specialty (46%). In terms of prescribing costs, at the top is the cardiovascular specialty (45.75%). Lansoprazole, which is one of the proton pump inhibitors on in the national list of essential medicines, contributed most to the cost. Prescribing proton pump inhibitors that are not included in the national list of essential medicines were responsible for over 90% of the costs in the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal specialties. An escalating trend in prescribing varied proton pump inhibitors, that is, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, dexlansoprazole and rabeprazole, all of which were not on the list of essential medicines, was evident in the latter. CONCLUSIONS: The highest volume of proton pump inhibitor prescribing-mostly of omeprazole, was issued by the orthopaedic specialty. The cardiovascular specialty was responsible for the largest amount of cost. The increases in the uses and costs of varying proton pump inhibitors which were outside the national list of essential medicines were notable in the gastrointestinal specialty.

Cost-Effectiveness of Vonoprazan Compared With Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients Taking Low-Dose Aspirin for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose aspirin (LDA) is used to prevent recurrent cardiovascular (CV) events, but is associated with upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding; concomitant use of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) reduces this risk. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of vonoprazan compared with PPIs (lansoprazole and esomeprazole) in patients taking LDA for secondary prevention of CV events.Methods and Results: A Markov simulation model was developed to predict the number of GI bleeding and acute CV events using 3 strategies (vonoprazan+LDA, esomeprazole+LDA, and lansoprazole+LDA), which were translated into quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs. Transition probabilities and utilities were derived from the results of published literature, and medical costs were based on the Japanese National Health Insurance fee table and claims databases in 2020. Outcomes were projected over 30 years starting at age 65 years and discounted at 2% annually. Expected costs with esomeprazole 20 mg, lansoprazole 15 mg and vonoprazan 10 mg were JPY 1,225,657, JPY 943,930, and JPY 1,059,510, respectively. The QALY gain for vonoprazan vs. esomeprazole was 0.35, thus vonoprazan was dominant against esomeprazole. The QALY gain for vonoprazan vs. lansoprazole was 0.29 and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was JPY 398,551, thus, vonoprazan was more cost-effective than lansoprazole. CONCLUSIONS: Vonoprazan is dominant or cost-effective compared with esomeprazole and lansoprazole in patients taking LDA for secondary prevention of CV events.

Cost-Utility Analysis of CYP2C19 Genotype Detection for Selection of Acid-Suppressive Therapy with Lansoprazole or Vonoprazan for Patients with Reflux Esophagitis in China.

BACKGROUND: The cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 genotype has a profound effect on the efficacy of lansoprazole, with less of an influence on vonoprazan. Both are first-choice drugs for the treatment of reflux esophagitis in China. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of acid-suppressive treatments in Chinese patients with reflux esophagitis over 1 year from the societal perspective. METHODS: We developed a decision-based Markov model with a 4-week cycle to simulate the economic benefits and quality-adjusted life-years between different treatment strategies for patients with reflux esophagitis: universal lansoprazole, universal vonoprazan, and CYP2C19 genotype-guided strategies. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Data sources were the published literature, clinical trials, documents, and local charges. We used sensitivity analyses to detect the robustness of the findings and explored subgroup analyses and scenario analyses to make further evaluations. RESULTS: Compared to lansoprazole, vonoprazan and the CYP2C19 genotype-guided strategy were not preferable for Chinese patients with reflux esophagitis, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 222,387.1316 yuan/quality-adjusted life-year and 349,627.5000 yuan/quality-adjusted life-year, respectively. Sensitivity analyses showed the impact factors were the utility scores and the expenditures for the maintenance stage with lansoprazole and vonoprazan. When the willingness-to-pay threshold was 215,484 yuan/quality-adjusted life-year, 46.20% of the reflux esophagitis population was willing to pay for vonoprazan, compared with 8.30% for the CYP2C19 genotype-guided strategies. Vonoprazan and the CYP2C19 genotype-guided strategy were cost effective in the severe reflux esophagitis population, and in the reduction of the price of vonoprazan. CONCLUSIONS: The health economic evaluations revealed that for Chinese patients with reflux esophagitis, vonoprazan and the CYP2C19 genotype-guided strategy were not cost-effective regimens compared with lansoprazole. However, we found that in certain conditions like a reduction in the price of vonoprazan and in patients with severe reflux esophagitis these could be cost-effective.

Lansoprazole for persistent throat symptoms in secondary care: the TOPPITS RCT.

BACKGROUND: Persistent throat symptoms are commonly attributed to 'laryngopharyngeal reflux'. Despite a limited evidence base, these symptoms are increasingly being treated in primary care with proton pump inhibitors. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of proton pump inhibitor therapy in patients with persistent throat symptoms. DESIGN: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised Phase III trial. SETTING: This was a multicentre UK trial in eight UK ear, nose and throat departments. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 346 participants aged ≥ 18 years with persistent throat symptoms and a Reflux Symptom Index score of ≥ 10, exclusive of the dyspepsia item, were recruited. INTERVENTION: Random allocation (1 : 1 ratio) to either 30 mg of lansoprazole twice daily or matched placebo for 16 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Symptomatic response (i.e. total Reflux Symptom Index score after 16 weeks of therapy). RESULTS: A total of 1427 patients were screened and 346 were randomised. The mean age was 52 years (standard deviation 13.7 years, range 20-84 years); 150 (43%) participants were male and 196 (57%) were female; 184 (53%) participants had a mild Reflux Symptom Index minus the heartburn/dyspepsia item and 162 (47%) had a severe Reflux Symptom Index minus the heartburn/dyspepsia item. A total of 172 patients were randomised to lansoprazole and 174 were randomised to placebo. MAIN OUTCOMES: A total of 267 participants completed the primary end-point visit (lansoprazole, n = 127; placebo, n = 140), of whom 220 did so between 14 and 20 weeks post randomisation ('compliant' group); 102 received lansoprazole and 118 received placebo. The mean Reflux Symptom Index scores at baseline were similar [lansoprazole 22.0 (standard deviation 8.0), placebo 21.7 (standard deviation 7.1), overall 21.9 (standard deviation 7.5)]. The mean Reflux Symptom Index scores at 16 weeks reduced from baseline in both groups [overall 17.4 (standard deviation 9.9), lansoprazole 17.4 (standard deviation 9.9), placebo 15.6 (standard deviation 9.8)]. Lansoprazole participants had estimated Reflux Symptom Index scores at 16 weeks that were 1.9 points higher (worse) than those of placebo participants (95% confidence interval -0.3 to 4.2; padj = 0.096), adjusted for site and baseline severity. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Ninety-five (43%) participants achieved a Reflux Symptom Index score in the normal range (< 12) at 16 weeks: 42 (41%) in the lansoprazole group and 53 (45%) in the placebo group. A total of 226 participants completed the end-of-trial follow-up visit (lansoprazole, n = 109; placebo, n = 117), of whom 181 were 'compliant'. The mean Reflux Symptom Index scores at 12 months reduced from baseline in both groups [lansoprazole 16.0 (standard deviation 10.8), placebo 13.6 (standard deviation 9.6), overall 14.7 (standard deviation 10.2)]. A total of 87 (48%) participants achieved a Reflux Symptom Index score in the normal range at 12 months: 33 (40%) in the lansoprazole group and 54 (55%) in the placebo group. Likewise, the Comprehensive Reflux Symptom Score and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux - Health Related Quality of Life total scores and subscales all showed very similar changes in the lansoprazole and placebo cohorts at both 16 weeks and 12 months. LIMITATIONS: Drop-out rate and compliance are issues in pragmatic clinical trials. The Trial Of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Throat Symptoms (TOPPITS) aimed to detect clinically relevant difference with 90% power. The 346 randomised participants reduced to 283 at the primary end point; 267 completed the primary outcome measure, 220 within the protocol time scale. Despite this, the powers to detect the clinically relevant difference in Reflux Symptom Index score at 16 weeks were 82% (compliant comparison) and 89% (pragmatic comparison). The lack of difference between lansoprazole and placebo is generalisable across NHS clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Participants on lansoprazole did not report significantly better outcomes than participants on placebo on any of the three patient-reported outcome tools (Reflux Symptom Index, Comprehensive Reflux Symptom Score and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux - Health Related Quality of Life). This multicentre, pragmatic, powered, definitive Phase III trial found no evidence of benefit for patients by treating persistent throat symptoms with lansoprazole. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN38578686 and EudraCT number 2013-004249-17. FUNDING: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 25, No. 3. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

BACKGROUND: One of the commonest reasons for patients attending hospital throat or voice clinics is persistent throat symptoms, which include a feeling of a lump in the throat, a cough or a hoarse voice. Over time, more of these patients are being treated with proton pump inhibitors to suppress stomach acid in the belief that stomach acid entering the throat causes the symptoms, but there is little evidence that these medications work. STUDY AIM: The aim of this study is to explore whether or not having a 16-week course of proton pump inhibitors has any impact on throat symptoms. We also tested the usefulness of three different questionnaires in measuring throat symptoms, explored side effects and whether or not patients adhere to treatment, and measured patients' quality of life. METHODS: Patients with persistent (lasting for more than 6 weeks) throat symptoms who agreed to participate were randomised to receive either the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole or a placebo. Participants took lansoprazole or placebo for 16 weeks. Symptoms and quality of life were measured before patients were randomised and at 4 and 12 months after randomisation. RESULTS: The total number of participants was 346. The mean Reflux Symptom Index outcome score (higher scores meaning worse symptoms) was 22 before the 4-month course of capsules, 16 after 4 months and 15 after 12 months. Participant-reported throat symptoms and quality of life in all participants improved over the 12 months of the study. There was no difference in the symptom improvement experienced by proton pump inhibitor and placebo participants. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that proton pump inhibitors do not benefit patients with persistent throat symptoms. Future research should focus on other available therapies.

Fracture risk assessment in the general population in Spain by FRAX® algorithm. EPISER2016 study. / Valoración del riesgo de fractura en población general en España mediante el algoritmo FRAX®: Estudio EPISER2016.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the risk of fracture calculated by FRAX® and the frequency of high risk of fracture in the general population in Spain. METHODS: EPISER2016 is a multicentre cross-sectional population-based study of the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in the adult population in Spain. 3,154 subjects aged ≥40 years (1,184 men and 1,970 women) were selected by stratified random sampling. The questions related to fracture risk factors were asked by telephone survey. The risk of major osteoporotic fracture (MOFR) and hip fracture (HFR) were calculated with the Spanish version of the FRAX® tool, without the inclusion of bone mineral density. To define high fracture risk, the MOFR≥20%, MOFR≥10%, MOFR≥7.5% and HFR≥3% thresholds were used. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) of the MOFR was 2.61% (1.55-6.34%) in women and 1.67% (1.15-2.87%) in men, whereas that of the HFR was 0.39% (0.14-1.86%) and 0.18% (0.07-0.77%); 3.83% of women and no men had a MOFR≥20%; 15.71% and 1.14% had a MOFR≥10%; 20.62% and 2.21%, a MOFR≥7.5%; and 19.27% and 8.05%, an HFR≥3%. In women aged 65 and over, the HFR was high in 58.09%. CONCLUSIONS: EPISER2016 enabled us to establish the risk of fracture calculated by FRAX® and the prevalence of high risk of fracture in the general population according to the different thresholds used in Spain.

Vonoprazan versus Lansoprazole for the Initial Treatment of Reflux Esophagitis: A Cost-effectiveness Analysis in Japan.

Objective Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent disorder that negatively affects patients' quality of life and reduces their work productivity. The medical expenses associated with the treatment of GERD are the highest among all digestive diseases. Current guidelines recommend the administration of a standard dose of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for eight weeks as an initial GERD treatment. However, there is growing concern regarding the safety of PPI treatment. Recently, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), vonoprazan (VPZ), was approved for the treatment of reflux esophagitis in Japan and may provide clinical benefits in GERD treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a P-CAB, VPZ vs. a PPI, lansoprazole (LPZ), for the acute medical treatment of reflux esophagitis. Methods A clinical decision analysis was performed using a Markov chain approach to compare VPZ to LPZ in the acute treatment of reflux esophagitis in Japan. Results The P-CAB strategy was superior to the PPI strategy in terms of cost-effectiveness (direct cost per patient to achieve clinical success) and the number of days for which medication was required. Sensitivity analyses revealed that this superiority was robust within the plausible range of probabilities. This remained true even when the healing rates in cases of mild esophagitis were applied. Conclusion The P-CAB strategy was consistently superior to the conventional PPI strategy using the original LPZ in terms of cost-effectiveness and the number of days for which medication was required. Thus, VPZ appears to be the drug of choice for the acute medical treatment of reflux esophagitis.

Cost-effectiveness analysis and effectiveness of pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is involved in many upper gastrointestinal diseases such as peptic ulcers and gastric cancers. In this study, we compared the cost-effectiveness of lansoprazole and vonoprazan in H. pylori eradication therapy and examined the effectiveness of pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics. METHODS: We investigated the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics in H. pylori eradication therapy at our hospital from January 2015 to December 2017. The subjects were classified into three groups: lansoprazole group; vonoprazan group; and the medication instruction group, which received instructions at the pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics (intervention group). We examined the eradication rate and cost-effectiveness ratio of each group. RESULTS: The eradication rate of primary eradication therapy was 75.2% in the lansoprazole group, 87.8% in the vonoprazan group and 91.4% in the intervention group. When mental component summary was used as quality of life score, cost-effectiveness ratio was 224.7 yen in lansoprazole group, 223.9 yen in vonoprazan group and 222.2 yen in intervention group. Setting up pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics increases the pharmacist labour cost necessary for eradication therapy. However, if the medication instructions provided by the pharmacist can lead to improved disinfection efficiency, improvement in cost efficiency can be expected. CONCLUSION: Although medication instructions provided at the pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics incur additional labour costs, they improve patient quality of life as well as disinfection rate in H. pylori eradication therapy. Therefore, pharmacist-managed outpatient clinics are useful from the viewpoint of pharmacoeconomics.

Informe de evaluación científica en la evidencia disponible: colitis ulcerosa / Scientific evaluation report for available evidence: ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCCIÓN: La colitis ulcerosa es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica que afecta la mucosa del colon en forma continua, comprometiendo el recto y una porción variable de la extensión del resto del colon, sin la presencia de granulomas en la biopsia. En esta enfermedad, el sistema inmune reconoce esta porción del colon como ajena al cuerpo y lo ataca generando úlceras que caracterizan a esta enfermedad. Se considerarán para su evaluación aquellas solicitudes realizadas conforme al Reglamento que establece el proceso destinado a determinar los diagnósticos y tratamientos de alto costo con sistema de protección financiera, según lo establecido en los artículos 7° y 8° de la Ley N° 20.850. Estas solicitudes no son vinculantes para el Ministerio de Salud debiendo, sin embargo, tomar especialmente en cuenta aquellas solicitudes y opiniones que hayan sido realizadas por sus comisiones técnicas asesoras y por las asociaciones de pacientes incluidas en el Registro de Asociaciones de Pacientes que crea la Ley 20.850. De igual forma, para ser incorporadas en el proceso de evaluación científica de la evidencia, cada intervención debe cumplir con los criterios establecidos en el Artículo 6o del Reglamento mencionado, según lo indicado en el Numeral 9 del presente informe. TECNOLOGÍAS SANITARIA DE INTERÉS: Los tratamientos que son evaluados en este informe se pueden clasificar en inmunosupresores (azatioprina), antinflamatorios (mesalazina y sulfasalazina), inhibidores de secreciones de ácido gástrico (lansoprazol y omeprazol), agentes antioxidantes (colestiramina), y Anti-TNFs (adalimumab, golimumab e infliximab). Cada uno de estos tratamientos se utiliza en pacientes con distintos avances de la enfermedad ya para reducir el avance de ésta (azatioprina, mesalazina y Anti-TNFs), o para el alivio de algunos síntomas (lansoprazol, omeprazol y colestiramina). EFICACIA DE LOS TRATAMIENTOS: Se extrajeron 31 revisiones sistemáticas que incluyen 11 ensayos controlados aleatorizados que evaluaban la eficacia de adalimumab, golimumab e infliximab en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa moderada a grave. El tratamiento con adalimumab aumenta ligeramente el número de pacientes que cicatrizan su mucosa e incrementan su score IBDQ (calidad de vida) en más de 12 puntos, a las 8 semanas. El tratamiento con golimumab probablemente aumenta el número de pacientes que responden clínicamente a las 6 semanas, mientras que probablemente aumenta ligeramente el número de pacientes que remite y cicatrizan su mucosa a las 6 semanas. Además, golimumab probablemente no genera diferencias en cuanto a la calidad de vida (cuestionario IBDQ) de pacientes con colitis ulcerosa. El tratamiento con infliximab aumenta el número de pacientes que presentan respuesta clínica a las 8 semanas, mientras que reduce ligeramente el número de pacientes que reciben colectomía a las 54 semanas. No se encontró evidencia de eficacia de los tratamientos sobre una menor hospitalización o una menor estadía hospitalaria, ni estudios que evaluaran la eficacia en niños con colitis ulcerosa. ALTERNATIVAS DISPONIBLES: Para pacientes con colitis ulcerosa moderada o grave que sean refractarios a una primera línea de tratamiento (generalmente con anti-inflamatorios o inmunosupresores), se recomienda la proctocolectomía restauradora con reservorio íleo anal. Este procedimiento remueve completamente el colon y el recto, preservando el esfínter anal, generalmente produciendo una excelente función intestinal y continencia fecal. El reservorio ubicado en la zona pélvica interna sirve para los contenidos intestinales. Esta cirugía se puede realizar en etapas, en la primera etapa se puede realizar una colectomía subtotal más una ileostomía, o extirpación total de colon y el recto, con ejecución de un reservorio ileal que se protege con una ileostomía, luego en la siguiente etapa se cierra la ileostomía. CONCLUSIÓN: Para dar cumplimiento al artículo 28° del Reglamento que establece el proceso destinado a determinar los diagnósticos y tratamientos de alto costo con Sistema de Protección Financiera, según lo establecido en los artículos 7°y 8° de la ley N°20.850, aprobado por el decreto N°13 del Ministerio de Salud, se concluye que el presente informe de evaluación se considera favorable, de acuerdo a lo establecido en el Título III. de las Evaluaciones Favorables de la Norma Técnica N° 0192 de este mismo ministerio.

Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase Risk for Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients With Cirrhosis in A Population Study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a serious complication of cirrhosis and is associated with gut dysbiosis. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), frequently prescribed to patients with cirrhosis, can contribute to small-bowel bacterial overgrowth. We investigated whether PPI predisposes patients with cirrhosis to HE using a large database of patients. METHODS: We performed a case-control study nested within a sample of Taiwan National Health Insurance beneficiaries (n = 1,000,000), followed up longitudinally from 1998 through 2011. Patients with cirrhosis and an occurrence of HE (n = 1166) were selected as the case cohort and matched to patients without HE (1:1, controls) for sex, enrollment time, end point time, follow-up period, and advanced cirrhosis. Information on prescribed drugs, drug dosage, supply days, and numbers of dispensed pills was extracted from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. PPI use was defined as more than 30 cumulative defined daily doses (cDDDs); PPI nonuse was defined as 30 cDDDs or fewer. We performed logistic regression analyses to estimate the association between PPI use and the occurrence of HE. RESULTS: Among patients with cirrhosis and an occurrence of HE, 38% (n = 445) had a history of PPI use before HE occurrence. We observed a relationship between dose of PPI taken and HE risk. The confounder-adjusted odd ratios were 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.84), 1.51 (95% CI, 1.11-2.06), and 3.01 (95% CI, 1.78-5.10) for patients with 30-120 cDDDs, 120-365 cDDDs, and more than 365 cDDDs, respectively, compared with PPI nonusers. All categories of PPIs, except rabeprazole, were associated with an increased risk of HE. CONCLUSIONS: Based on an analysis of data from Taiwan National Health Insurance beneficiaries, we found that use of PPIs in patients with cirrhosis increases the risk for HE; risk increases with dose. It therefore is important for health care providers to carefully consider prolonged PPI use by patients with cirrhosis.

Informe de evaluación científica basada en la evidencia disponible: colitis ulcerosa / Scientific evaluation report based on available evidence: ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCCIÓN: La colitis ulcerosa es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica que afecta la mucosa del colon en forma continua, comprometiendo el recto y una porción variable de la extensión del resto del colon, sin la presencia de granulomas en la biopsia. En esta enfermedad, el sistema inmune reconoce esta porción del colon como ajena al cuerpo y lo ataca generando úlceras que caracterizan a esta enfermedad. TECNOLOGÍAS SANITARIAS ANALIZADAS: Adalimumab, azatioprina, golimumab, infliximab, mesalazina, lansoprazol, omeprazol, sulfasalazina y colestiramina. EFICACIA DE LOS TRATAMIENTOS: Se extrajeron 31 revisiones sistemáticas que incluyen 11 ensayos controlados aleatorizados que evaluaban la eficacia de adalimumab, golimumab e infliximab en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa moderada a grave. El tratamiento con adalimumab aumenta ligeramente el número de pacientes que cicatrizan su mucosa e incrementan su score IBDQ (calidad de vida) en más de 12 puntos, a las 8 semanas. El tratamiento con golimumab probablemente aumenta el número de pacientes que responden clínicamente a las 6 semanas, mientras que probablemente aumenta ligeramente el número de pacientes que remite y cicatrizan su mucosa a las 6 semanas. Además, golimumab probablemente no genera diferencias en cuanto a la calidad de vida (cuestionario IBDQ) de pacientes con colitis ulcerosa. El tratamiento con infliximab aumenta el número de pacientes que presentan respuesta clínica a las 8 semanas, mientras que reduce ligeramente el número de pacientes que reciben colectomía a las 54 semanas. No se encontró evidencia de eficacia de los tratamientos sobre una menor hospitalización o una menor estadía hospitalaria, ni estudios que evaluaran la eficacia en niños con colitis ulcerosa. ANÁLISIS ECONÓMICO: Infliximab resultó ser la alternativa que presentó mayor efectividad. Sin embargo, la efectividad incremental en relación a adalimumab es sólo de 0,66 QALYs, superándolo en costes en aproximadamente un 45%. Infliximab y golimumab fueron los tratamientos que presentaron mayor costo en relación a adalimumab. En esto se incluyen los costos de efectos adversos serios, porcentaje de pacientes que se sometían a colectomía mientras estaban en terapia con algún biológico y los costos de administración de infliximab. Para este último se consideró un costo mayor, ya que como su administración es intravenosa se deben considerar las horas en que el paciente debe estar en una sala de observaciones para que se le administre el biológico. En cuanto a las agencias internacionales, Inglaterra recomienda el uso de adalimumab, infliximab o golimumab en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa moderada a grave, siempre y cuando la terapia convencional no funcione o no sea la adecuada. El impacto presupuestario calculado para el primer año de tratamiento fue de MM$1.810 para adalimumab, $MM2.424 para infliximab, y MM$353.378 para golimumab. CONCLUSIÓN: Para dar cumplimiento al artículo 28° del Reglamento que establece el proceso destinado a determinar los diagnósticos y tratamientos de alto costo con Sistema de Protección Financiera, según lo establecido en los artículos 7°y 8° de la ley N°20.850, aprobado por el decreto N°13 del Ministerio de Salud, se concluye que el presente informe de evaluación se considera favorable, de acuerdo a lo establecido en el Título III. de las Evaluaciones Favorables de la Norma Técnica N° 0192 de este mismo ministerio.

Informe de evaluación científica en la evidencia disponible: colitis ulcerosa / Scientific evaluation report on the available evidence: ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCCIÓN: La colitis ulcerosa es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica que afecta la mucosa del colon en forma continua, comprometiendo el recto y una porción variable de la extensión del resto del colon, sin la presencia de granulomas en la biopsia. En esta enfermedad, el sistema inmune reconoce esta porción del colon como ajena al cuerpo y lo ataca generando úlceras que caracterizan a esta enfermedad. Los pacientes con colitis ulcerosa usualmente presentan diarrea (la que puede estar asociada con hemorragia), dolor abdominal, tenesmo e incontinencia. Además, es frecuente la presencia de episodios hemorrágicos que pueden durar semanas o meses, con una probabilidad alta de recaída (al menos cada 10 años). La frecuencia de recaída dependería, entre otras cosas, de la edad al momento del diagnóstico. Las causas de esta enfermedad no son conocidas, aunque se puede atribuir un mayor riesgo en personas con antecedentes familiares. La incidencia anual se ha estimado en EEUU en un rango entre 2.2 a 19.2 casos por 100.000 personas, la cual se ha incrementado en los últimos años. Por otro lado, se ha estimado que en Europa la incidencia se movería en un rango entre 3.8 a 13 casos por 100.000 personas. En Chile no existen suficientes estudios con un número significativo de pacientes que describan las características epidemiológicas de esta enfermedad. TECNOLOGÍAS SANITARIA DE INTERÉS: Adalimumab: Adalimumab cuenta con registro en el Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP) e indicación para la condición evaluada. Azatioprina: Azatioprina cuenta con registro en ISP e indicación para la condición evaluada. Golimumab: Golimumab cuenta con registro en ISP e indicación para la condición evaluada. Infliximab: Infliximab cuenta con registro en ISP e indicación para la condición evaluada. Mesalazina: Mesalazina cuenta con registro en ISP e indicación para la condición evaluada. Lansoprazol: Lansoprazol cuenta con registro en ISP, pero sin indicación para colitis ulcerosa. En la EMA y en la FDA tampoco tiene indicación para esta enfermedad. Omeprazol: Omeprazol cuenta con registro en ISP, pero sin indicación para colitis ulcerosa. En la EMA y en la FDA tampoco tiene indicación para esta enfermedad. Sulfasalazina: Sulfasalazina cuenta con registro en ISP e indicación para la condición evaluada. Colestiramina: Colestiramina cuenta con registro en ISP, pero sin indicación para colitis ulcerosa. En la EMA no se encuentra registrada, y en la FDA tampoco tiene indicación para esta enfermedad. EFICACIA DE LOS TRATAMIENTOS: Se extrajeron 31 revisiones sistemáticas que incluyen 11 ensayos controlados aleatorizados que evaluaban la eficacia de adalimumab, golimumab e infliximab en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa moderada a grave. El tratamiento con adalimumab aumenta ligeramente el número de pacientes que cicatrizan su mucosa e incrementan su score IBDQ (calidad de vida) en más de 12 puntos, a las 8 semanas. El tratamiento con golimumab probablemente aumenta el número de pacientes que responden clínicamente a las 6 semanas, mientras que probablemente aumenta ligeramente el número de pacientes que remite y cicatrizan su mucosa a las 6 semanas. Además, golimumab probablemente no genera diferencias en cuanto a la calidad de vida (cuestionario IBDQ) de pacientes con colitis ulcerosa. El tratamiento con infliximab aumenta el número de pacientes que presentan respuesta clínica a las 8 semanas, mientras que reduce ligeramente el número de pacientes que reciben colectomía a las 54 semanas. No se encontró evidencia de eficacia de los tratamientos sobre una menor hospitalización o una menor estadía hospitalaria, ni estudios que evaluaran la eficacia en niños con colitis ulcerosa. ALTERNATIVAS DISPONIBLES: Para pacientes con colitis ulcerosa moderada o grave que sean refractarios a una primera línea de tratamiento (generalmente con anti-inflamatorios o inmunosupresores), se recomienda la proctocolectomía restauradora con reservorio íleo anal. Este procedimiento remueve completamente el colon y el recto, preservando el esfínter anal, generalmente produciendo una excelente función intestinal y continencia fecal. El reservorio ubicado en la zona pélvica interna sirve para los contenidos intestinales. Esta cirugía se puede realizar en etapas, en la primera etapa se puede realizar una colectomía subtotal más una ileostomía, o extirpación total de colon y el recto, con ejecución de un reservorio ileal que se protege con una ileostomía, luego en la siguiente etapa se cierra la ileostomía. RESULTADOS DE LA BÚSQUEDA DE EVIDENCIA: Los resultados de la recopilación de la evidencia son presentados para cada una de las tecnologías evaluadas. La información presentada fue extraída de 31 revisiones sistemáticas relevantes para la pregunta que se intenta responder, las que fueron publicadas entre los años 2007 y 2017. En estas revisiones, se excluyeron los casos donde se utilizaron biológicos como tratamiento de primera línea, e intervenciones aplicadas a pacientes que ya han pasado por colectomía, o que tenían serias comorbilidades. Además, se excluyeron los artículos que contemplaran terapia de rescate o con dosis no indicadas por la European Medicines Agency (EMA). CONCLUSIÓN: Para dar cumplimiento al artículo 28° del Reglamento que establece el proceso destinado a determinar los diagnósticos y tratamientos de alto costo con Sistema de Protección Financiera, según lo establecido en los artículos 7°y 8° de la ley N°20.850, aprobado por el decreto N°13 del Ministerio de Salud, se concluye que el presente informe de evaluación se considera favorable, de acuerdo a lo establecido en el Título III. de las Evaluaciones Favorables de la Norma Técnica N° 0192 de este mismo ministerio.

An assessment of the efficacy of first-line Helicobacter pylori-eradication therapy based on clarithromycin susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the efficacy of standard triple therapy comprising proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin (CAM), and amoxicillin, for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has reduced owing to the increasing CAM resistance of H. pylori. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of first-line H. pylori-eradication therapy on the basis of CAM sensitivity. METHODS: We enrolled 447 patients who were diagnosed with H. pylori infection from January 2011 to July 2014 and examined the antimicrobial resistance. In total, 260 patients without a history of H. pylori eradication therapy were treated with CAM- or metronidazole (MNZ)-based eradication therapy on the basis of the treatment period and CAM sensitivity of H. pylori. Between January 2011 and June 2013, patients were treated with CAM-based empirical therapy. Between July 2013 and July 2014, patients with CAM-sensitive strains were treated with CAM-based eradication therapy, and those with CAM-resistant strains were treated with MNZ-based therapy. RESULTS: The overall rate of resistance to CAM was 29.8%. The eradication rates of the empirical therapy and CAM-sensitivity-based therapy were 76.5% and 93.0%, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Eradication therapy based on CAM sensitivity was more effective than empirical eradication therapy for the first-line treatment of H. pylori-infected patients.

Combining simplicity with cost-effectiveness: Investigation of potential counterfeit of proton pump inhibitors through simulated formulations using thin-layer chromatography.

A simple, accurate and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the analysis of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and their co-formulated drugs, available as binary combination. Planar chromatographic separation was achieved using a single mobile phase comprising of toluene: iso-propranol: acetone: ammonia 5.0:2.3:2.5:0.2 (v/v/v/v) for the analysis of 14 analytes on aluminium-backed layer of silica gel 60 FG254. Densitometric determination of the separated spots was done at 290nm. The method was validated according to ICH guidelines for linearity, precision and accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and robustness. The method showed good linear response for the selected drugs as indicated by the high values of correlation coefficients (≥0.9993). The limit of detection and limit of quantiation were in the range of 6.9-159.2ng/band and 20.8-478.1ng/band respectively for all the analytes. The optimized conditions afforded adequate resolution of each PPI from their co-formulated drugs and provided unambiguous identification of the co-formulated drugs from their homologous retardation factors (hRf). The only limitation of the method was the inability to separate two PPIs, rabeprazole and lansoprazole from each other. Nevertheless, it is proposed that peak spectra recording and comparison with standard drug spot can be a viable option for assignment of TLC spots. The method performance was assessed by analyzing different laboratory simulated mixtures and some marketed formulations of the selected drugs. The developed method was successfully used to investigate potential counterfeit of PPIs through a series of simulated formulations with good accuracy and precision.

Cognitive impact after short-term exposure to different proton pump inhibitors: assessment using CANTAB software.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase the brain burden of amyloid-beta (Aß) and also create vitamin B12 deficiency. However, these two phenomena have deleterious effect on cognition and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since the use of PPIs has increased tremendously for the last few years, it is of great public health importance to investigate the cognitive impact of PPIs. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of neuropsychological association of each PPI with different cognitive functions. METHODS: Sixty volunteers of either gender were recruited and divided randomly into six groups: five test groups for five classes of PPIs and one control group. All the groups participated in the five computerized neuropsychological tests (nine subtests) of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery twice: at the beginning of the study and 7 days thereafter. RESULTS: We found statistically and clinically significant impairment in visual memory, attention, executive function, and working and planning function. One-way analysis of variance findings showed that all PPIs had a similar negative impact on cognition. However, paired-samples t tests indicated that omeprazole showed significant (p < 0.05) results in seven subtests; lansoprazole and pantoprazole showed significant results in five subtests; and rabeprazole showed significant results in four subtests. Among five classes of PPIs, esomeprazole showed comparatively less impact on cognitive function with significant results in three subtests. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals for the first time that different PPIs have varying degrees of influence on different cognitive domains and have associations with AD. These findings should be considered when balancing the risks and benefits of prescribing these medications. A study done for a longer period of time with a larger sample size might yield better results.

Initiatives in South Africa to enhance the prescribing of generic proton pump inhibitors: findings and implications.

BACKGROUND: There have been multiple reforms in South Africa to conserve resources including policies to enhance generic use, such as compulsory generic substitution and copayments. However, there are concerns with the limited knowledge of their impact. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine utilization and expenditure of different proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). METHODOLOGY: A retrospective drug utilization study was conducted on a prescription database of a medical aid administrator in 2010. RESULTS: The limited prescribing of single-sourced PPIs accounted for 21.5% of total prescriptions. The limited use of originators omeprazole and lansoprazole accounted for 1.8 and 1.4% of total prescriptions for the molecule, respectively. Generic prices accounted for 36-68% of the originator in 2010. Patients received on average 2.91 PPI prescriptions during the year. CONCLUSION: Policies to enhance prescribing of generics appear working. Opportunities exist to further lower generic prices given low prices in some European countries.

Prediction of inter-individual variability in the pharmacokinetics of CYP2C19 substrates in humans.

Significant inter-individual variability of exposure for CYP2C19 substrates may be only partly due to genetic polymorphism. Therefore, the in vivo inter-individual variability in hepatic intrinsic clearance (CL(int,h)) of CYP2C19 substrates was estimated from reported AUC values using Monte Carlo simulations. The coefficient of variation (CV) for CL(int,h) in poor metabolizers (PM) expected from genotypes CYP2C19*2/*2, CYP2C19*3/*3 or CYP2C19*2/*3 was estimated as 25.8% from the CV for AUC of omeprazole in PMs. With this, CVs of CL(int,h) in extensive metabolizers (EM: CYP2C19*1/*1), intermediate metabolizers (IM: CYP2C19*1/*2 or *3) and ultra-rapid metabolizers (UM), CYP2C19*17/*17 and *1/*17, were estimated as 66.0%, 55.8%, 6.8% and 48.0%, respectively. To validate these CVs, variability in the AUC of CYP2C19 substrates lansoprazole and rabeprazole, partially metabolized by CYP3A4 in EMs and IMs, were simulated using the CV in CL(int,h) for CYP2C19 EMs and IMs and 33% of the CV previously reported for CYP3A4. Published values were within 2.5-97.5 percentile range of simulated CVs for the AUC. Furthermore, simulated CVs for the AUC of omeprazole and lansoprazole in ungenotyped populations were comparable with published values. Thus, estimated CL(int,h) variability can predict variability in the AUC of drugs metabolized not only by CYP2C19 but also by multiple enzymes.

Patterns of proton pump inhibitor utilization in gastroesophageal reflux disease and the effect of restrictions on reimbursement: a nationwide prescription database study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the drug utilization patterns for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prescriptions dispensed in periods with and without restrictions on reimbursement in a public healthcare system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on all PPI prescriptions dispensed for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was retrieved from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) from 1 January 2004 to 31 January 2008. PPI utilization patterns were studied in new and current users of PPI in periods affected and not affected by a change in prescription policy. RESULTS: The policy change resulted in 39% of esomeprazole patients discontinuing PPI therapy during a 12-month period while 23% discontinued PPI therapy during a period not affected by the policy change. The shift frequency to a different PPI was low, 5% and 7% respectively, during periods not affected by policy change. Despite a required shift in most esomeprazole patients, 64% still continued on esomeprazole. Among the 36% who shifted from esomeprazole to a different PPI, 25% subsequently shifted back to esomeprazole. In new PPI users, the proportion of esomeprazole users declined from 57% before to 20% after the introduction of the policy change. CONCLUSIONS: Despite GERD being a chronic disease in most patients, there was a high degree of alteration seen in the utilization patterns of PPIs. A high proportion discontinued PPI therapy indicating mild symptoms or remission. The switching between different PPIs was low indicating good efficacy and tolerability in most patients. The policy change was more effective in new PPI users compared with the mandated shift in ongoing esomeprazole users.

Pharmacogenomic/pharmacokinetic assessment of a four-probe cocktail for CYPs and OATPs following oral microdosing.

OBJECTIVES: To test whether the multiple phenotype and genotype relationships established using therapeutic dose, can be reproduced following oral microdosing using substrates of CYP2C9 (warfarin and glibenclamide), CYP2C19 (lansoprazole), CYP2D6 (dextromethorphan), and OATPs (glibenclamide). METHODS: A cocktail of test drugs was administered orally under the microdose in liquid or capsule form, and then a therapeutic dose of dextromethorphan was administered to 17 healthy subjects whose genotypes for CYPs and OATPs had been prescreened. Concentrations of the drugs and their metabolites were measured by LC-MS/MS. RESULTS: The AUC and t1/2 of glibenclamide following the microdosing tended to be higher and longer, respectively, in CYP2C9*1/*3 than CYP2C9*1/*1 subjects. In contrast, there were no significant differences in any of the pharmacokinetic parameters for warfarin between the two genotypes. For CYP2D6 following the therapeutic dose, there was good concordance between genotype and phenotype; however, such relationships disappeared after microdosing. For CYP2C19 following the microdosing, there were significant differences between EMs and PMs in the pharmacokinetic parameters of lansoprazole. The relative AUC0-12 ratio of lansoprazole in EMs and PMs was 1:3.3 - 4.3. Among test drugs, phenotypic measurements of lansoprazole accorded well with the CYP2C19 genotype at the microdose as well as therapeutic dose. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that 1) the sampling strategy should be optimized according to pharmacokinetic profiles of the test drugs following oral microdosing, and 2) microdosing can be applied to the pharmacogenomic study of CYP-specific drugs.