Overuse of Acid-Suppressive Therapy in Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate prescription patterns of intravenous ranitidine and omeprazole in pediatric patients hospitalized in a children’s hospital, the adequacy of said prescriptions and the costs originated by incorrect prescriptions.

Patients and Methods: A study of medication usage was designed to observe all patients hospitalized at Hospital de Niños (Córdoba- Argentina) during one month.

Results: During the month of study 680 patients were hospitalized, 415 (61%) of them received acid-suppressive drugs (ASD). From these, 330 patients (79.5%) did not show risk factors to develop stress ulcer and indications were considered incorrect in 293 patients (70.6%). Only 81 patients (19.5%) showed correct indications and doses of ASD. A relationship was found between prescription and access to the operating room along with the concomitant use of corticoid in low doses. The unnecessary consumption of ASD generated a direct monthly expenditure of USD 470.42.

Conclusions: This study shows an alarming overuse of ASD in the pediatric population at Hospital de Niños. There exists a gap between scientific tests and everyday clinical practice in ASD use. Educational strategies should be implemented in pharmacotherapy using response protocols and pharmacology audits with posterior assessment to improve the use of medications and provide patients with an effective, safe, high-quality and academic medicine.