Authors: Pilotto, A.¹; Franceschi, M.²; Leandro, G.³; Paris, F.¹; Cascavilla, L.¹; Longo, M. G.¹; Niro, V.¹; Andriulli, A.⁴; Scarcelli, C.¹; Di Mario, F.⁵

Source: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 20, Number 10, November 2004 , pp. 1091-1097(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary Background

: Although administration of gastroprotective drugs may reduce the risk of peptic ulcers associated with the chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin, no consensus exists as to whether this co-therapy is effective for short-term prevention, particularly in old age. Aim

: To evaluate the risk of peptic ulcer associated with acute and chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin therapy in elderly subjects, and the influence of antisecretory treatment on this risk. Methods

: The study included 676 elderly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin users and 2435 non-users who consecutively underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or aspirin as well as antisecretory drugs (H₂-blockers and proton-pump inhibitors) was evaluated by a structured interview. Diagnosis of gastric and duodenal ulcer as well as Helicobacter pylori infection were carried out by endoscopy and histological examination of the gastric mucosa. Results

: About 47.3% of patients were acute and 52.7% chronic users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin. The risk of peptic ulcer, adjusted for age, gender, H. pylori infection and antisecretory drug use was higher in acute (gastric ulcer: odds ratio, OR =4.47, 95% CI: 3.19-6.26 and duodenal ulcer: OR =2.39, 95% CI: 1.73-3.31) than chronic users (gastric ulcer: OR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.97-3.99 and duodenal ulcer: OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.22-2.33). Proton-pump inhibitor treatment was associated with a reduced risk of peptic ulcer in both acute (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.24-2.04) and chronic (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.67) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/aspirin users. Conversely, concomitant treatment with H₂-blockers was associated with a significantly higher risk of peptic ulcer both in acute (OR = 10.9, 95% CI: 3.87-30.9) and chronic (OR = 6.26, 95% CI: 2.56-15.3) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/aspirin users than non-users. Proton-pump inhibitor treatment resulted in an absolute risk reduction of peptic ulcer by 36.6% in acute and 34.6% in chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/aspirin users; indeed, the number needed to treat to avoid one peptic ulcer in elderly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/aspirin users was three both in acute and chronic users. Conclusions

: These findings suggest that proton-pump inhibitor co-treatment is advisable in symptomatic elderly patients who need to be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or aspirin for a short period of time.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02246.x

Affiliations: 1: Unità Operativa di Geriatria, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG 2: Unità Operativa Geriatria, Ospedale di Schio, Schio, VI 3: Divisione Gastroenterologia, IRCCS Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy 4: Unità Operativa Gastroenterologia, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG 5: Cattedra Gastroenterologia, Università di Parma, Italy

Publication date: 2004-11-01

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• By this author: Pilotto, A. ;  Franceschi, M. ;  Leandro, G. ;  Paris, F. ;  Cascavilla, L. ;  Longo, M. G. ;  Niro, V. ;  Andriulli, A. ;  Scarcelli, C. ;  Di Mario, F.

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