The prescribing of acid suppressants prior to the endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophagitis

1365-2036

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

There has been a dramatic rise in incidences of Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. It has been suggested that the introduction and use of acid suppression therapy may be a factor in the rising incidences of Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Methods:This was a record linkage study, using a prescribing database and an endoscopy database. Patients who had undergone their first endoscopy during the period 1992–1995 and received the diagnosis of Barrett’s oesophagus or oesophagitis were identified. The prescribing of acid suppressants was compared for the 3 years prior to endoscopy, between those with Barrett’s oesophagus and those with oesophagitis.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Results:There was no significant difference between the Barrett’s patients and the oesophagitis patients in the proportion that had been exposed to acid suppression therapy (53.4% vs. 51.7%, P=0.704). The mean number of days of prescribing among those who had been exposed to acid suppression therapy was higher in the Barrett’s group (340.5 vs. 237.0 days, P=0.001).〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉Conclusions:Patients with Barrett’s oesophagus have received more acid suppressant therapy prior to diagnosis. The reasons for this are not clear. However, 46.6% of Barrett’s patients have not been exposed to acid suppressant therapy.

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