The cost of enhanced acid suppression

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and upper gastrointestinal bleeding are conditions that can make large demands on health care resources. Acid suppression is common therapy for these conditions. The economic implications of managing Helicobacter pylori-related PUD, GERD, and upper gastrointestinal bleeds were considered by several investigators. Economic analyses of drug regimens for PUD show that eradication is more cost effective than H₂-receptor antagonist (H₂RA) maintenance therapy. Although various eradication regimens have been compared, the results depend on a number of assumptions that preclude general conclusions regarding cost-effectiveness. Economic analyses related to GERD are hindered by the often chronic, relapsing nature of the disease, particularly once therapy is discontinued. Therefore, as with PUD, results of the economic analyses depend largely on initial assumptions relative to the model employed. With regard to upper gastrointestinal bleeding, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are potent acid suppressors that may help prevent rebleeding that was managed endoscopically. Further clinical and economic investigations of PPIs for stress ulcer prophylaxis are necessary. Cost-effectiveness studies comparing PPIs and H ₂RAs should focus on overall costs of managing these conditions and include economic benefits of preventing complications, and not on drug-acquisition costs alone.