Analysis of deprescription strategies of proton pump inhibitors in primary care: a narrative review

BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of omeprazole in 1989, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have become the mainstream of treatment for acid-related pathologies, but nowadays, it is estimated that between 20% and 80% of people worldwide who are using PPIs are doing so without an approved indication. Overusing PPIs is known to involve a tremendous cost in financial terms, and many western countries have reported high spending on these medicines. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a narrative review to evaluate PPI deprescription strategies carried out entirely or in collaboration with primary care and to identify factors that could influence the success of these strategies. METHOD: This review was conducted in November 2022, following PRISMA guidelines. Four databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL Complete, using the MeSH terms ‘proton pump inhibitors’ AND ‘deprescriptions’. RESULTS: The search with the established criteria found eight studies. The different success rates obtained by the various studies analysed in this review may be due to the different methodologies used when establishing the protocols, sample selection and monitoring of the results. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that the two factors related to the most successful strategies were a) the clarity and simplicity of the de-escalation protocols, in which patients were instructed on the measures to follow in the event of the reappearance of symptoms, and b) the training of the physicians responsible for deprescribing. Long-term conclusions cannot be drawn about the effectiveness of these protocols, given that the studies are limited in time. Other barriers to generalizing the results are the small sample size and the absence of control groups.