Characteristics of children and adolescents first prescribed proton pump inhibitors or histamine-2-receptor antagonists: an observational cohort study.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of pediatric patients prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) vs those of pediatric patients prescribed histamine-2-receptor antagonists (HRAs).

Methods: Observational studies were conducted using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) and the PHARMO Database Network. Patients aged 0-18 years who were first prescribed a PPI or HRA between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2012 (THIN) or between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2011 (PHARMO) were included.

Infants born before 32 weeks of gestation or with respiratory disease are most likely to receive palivizumab in the Netherlands.

Aim: Palivizumab is reported to be effective in reducing respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation. Its licensed uses include infants younger than six months of age, born before 35 weeks of gestation or under two years old with congenital heart disease or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We redressed lack of research in the Netherlands by studying whether infants who met the licensed indications received the drug.