Proton pump inhibitor co-prescription with dual antiplatelet therapy among patients with acute coronary syndrome in Qatar

Background There are increasing concerns about clinically significant interactions between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and clopidogrel, resulting in adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, published evidence on the prevalence and predictors of PPI use with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is scarce. Objective This study investigated the prevalence of PPI use among patients with ACS receiving DAPT and possible predictors of co-prescribing the PPIs with the DAPT. Setting Heart Hospital, a specialized tertiary care center in Qatar. Methodology A retrospective observational study of a prescription database was conducted. Subjects included 626 patients admitted between January and December 2012 with the diagnosis of ACS who received DAPT and discharged with or without a PPI. Univariate analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the predictors of PPI–DAPT co-prescription. Main outcome measures Prevalence of PPI co-prescribing with DAPT in proportions and percentages and odd ratios for the predictors of PPI–DAPT co-prescribing. Results A total of 626 patients were analyzed for PPI prevalence, with 200 patients (32 %) being prescribed PPI with DAPT upon discharge. After controlling for confounders, PPI use on admission (aOR 14.5; 95 % CI 7.6–27.6, p < 0.001), nationality (aOR 3.2; 95 % CI 1.1–9.9, p = 0.041), and having a history of diabetes (aOR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.24–0.99, p = 0.046) significantly influenced PPI–DAPT co-prescribing. Users of PPI on admission compared to nonusers were about 15 times more likely to be prescribed PPI with DAPT upon discharge; likewise, having Qatari nationality increased the likelihood of co-prescribing PPI with DAPT upon discharge by three folds. Lastly, patients with a history of diabetes were 50 % less likely to be prescribed PPIs upon discharge compared to those with no history of diabetes. Conclusion The rate of PPI co-prescribing with DAPT in the population studied was relatively high. The strongest predictor of PPI co-prescription with DAPT upon discharge was PPI use on admission. Furthermore, PPI prescribing was significantly predicted by nationality and not having diabetes. Further studies are warranted to better predict the factors associated with PPI–DAPT co-prescription and to investigate rational prescribing of PPIs among ACS patients.