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Patients may fail to successfully undergo a switch in therapy associated with a formulary change. The aim of this study was to measure health care costs and outcomes among patients who failed a formulary change in proton pump inhibitors in a VA medical center. Patients who failed a switch from omeprazole to lansoprazole (N = 51) were matched with patients who were successfully switched (N = 51). Health care utilization data was gathered from VA electronic databases and medical records for six months before and after the switch and, for failure patients, during the lansoprazole trial period. Statistical comparisons between failure and success patients were performed on changes in health care costs between these time periods. Health outcome data for the lansoprazole trial period and subsequent omeprazole reinstatement period were obtained through a telephone questionnaire of failure patients. Changes in total health care utilization costs did not differ significantly between failure and success groups for any of the time periods. Failure patients had significantly poorer health outcomes during their lansoprazole trial periods with significantly greater severity of heartburn and severity and frequency of acid regurgitation (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the formulary change had a negative impact upon health outcomes among failure patients but did not significantly affect their health care utilization costs. Identification of failure patients early in their lansoprazole trial periods could improved their health outcomes and satisfaction with medical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambulatory 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring is considered the gold standard for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The current approach is to encourage patients to pursue their everyday activity in order to obtain near-physiological recordings. However, the effect of the test itself on reflux-provoking activities has never been evaluated. Thus, the aim of our study was to assess daily food consumption, habits, symptoms, sleep, and perceived experience of patients undergoing pH testing as compared to an off test (normal) day. Patients reported type and time spent in each activity pursued, food ingested and length of each meal, habits, frequency and severity of GERD and other related symptoms, sleep disturbances, side effects, and overall perceived experience during pH testing and four weeks later, during a normal day. Fifty-four patients enrolled. pH testing significantly reduced time spent being active, number of meals and cups of coffee consumed, and frequency of GERD symptoms. Almost half of the patients reported having dysphagia during the test. Most patients experienced side effects and stated that the test bothered them most of the time. In conclusion, pH testing has a significant effect on decreasing reflux-provoking activities-patients tend to assume a more sedentary lifestyle. This may influence the reliability of the test as a physiologic measure of acid reflux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with Barrett's esophagus have demonstrated reduced chemo- and mechanoreceptor sensitivity to acid infusion and balloon distension, respectively. However, Barrett's esophagus is mainly a disease of the elderly, making age the possible underlying mechanism for altered pain perception in this patient population. Objectives: To determine perception thresholds to acid infusion in elderly (>65 yr) versus younger (£50 yr) patients with Barrett's esophagus. Methods: Twelve elderly and 10 younger patients, matched by length of Barrett's mucosa, were recruited into the study. All patients participated in our Barrett's esophagus surveillance program. The patients were treated with omeprazole 20 to 60 mg/day and were symptom free. Chemosensitivity was determined by a modified acid perfusion test, in which acid perception thresholds were quantified by the lag time to initial typical symptom perception, sensory intensity rating, and an acid perfusion sensory score. Results: Five of the elderly patients with Barrett's esophagus had a negative test, whereas all younger patients with Barrett's esophagus experienced typical symptom perception during acid infusion. Elderly patients with Barrett's esophagus had significantly longer lag time to initial perception, lower acid perfusion sensory score, and sensory intensity rating in comparison with the younger patients. Conclusions: Reduced chemoreceptor sensitivity to acid perfusion that has previously been demonstrated in patients with Barrett's esophagus may be related to age and not to the presence of Barrett's epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]