Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and prevalence of disease- and drug-related reasons for gastroprotection-a cross-sectional population-based study.

Purpose: To analyse the prevalence of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) with respect to underlying diseases and drugs, and to find predictors for such treatment when an evident rationale for the PPI treatment is lacking.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of individuals, ≥65 years in 2010, residing in the Region Västra Götaland during 2005-2010. For individuals with and without long-term use of PPI in 2010, we investigated the prevalence of an underlying diagnosis, that is, an acid-related disease during the five preceding years, as well as concomitant long-term use of antiplatelet agents or cyclooxygenase inhibitors.