Use of omeprazole at a Basic Health Unit in southern Brazil: patient profile, indication, and duration of use

• Autor(a) principal: Hipólito, Priscila
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Rocha, Bruno Simas da, Oliveira, Francisco Jorge Arsego Quadros de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Medicina de Família e Comunidade (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://www.rbmfc.org.br/rbmfc/article/view/1153
• topic: Omeprazole; Drug Prescriptions; Health Centers; Omeprazol; Prescripciones de Medicamentos; Centros de Salud; Omeprazol; Prescrições de Medicamentos; Unidade Básica de Saúde; omeprazol; prescrição de medicamentos; uso racional de medicamentos

Introduction: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most prescribed therapeutic classes worldwide. Omeprazole, a PPI, is included in the essential medicines list. Studies indicate that short-term use of PPIs can be safe, but that their long-term use is associated with adverse effects. Objective: To evaluate the profile of patients prescribed omeprazole at a Basic Health Unit (BHU) and to evaluate the duration of use, prescribed dose, and indication for use. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The medical records of patients prescribed omeprazole in May 2014 were identified by the pharmacy of the BHU, and were reviewed. Results: Of the 349 patients included, 75.4% were female patients and the average age was 64.6 years. The average number of drugs prescribed was 4.5 per patient. A dose of 20 mg was prescribed most frequently (69.8%), and 84.3% of patients had been prescribed omeprazole for more than six months. Gastro-esophageal reflux disease and gastric ulcers were the most cited indications for use. However, in 29.5% of the patients in the medical records examined, no indication for the use of omeprazole could be found. Conclusion: Older age and the number of prescription drugs were associated with increased omeprazole use. These factors can also be associated with irrational, and sometimes unjustified, use of omeprazole, and with its prolonged use.