The clinical diagnosis of gastritis. II. Aspects of current therapy and drug consumption.

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of 'gastritis' or non-ulcer dyspepsia were studied as to the extent and pattern of drugs prescribed from October 1978 through September 1981. This was permitted by the Diagnosis and Therapy Survey, an ongoing nationwide sample study, covering all outpatient care in Sweden. In 98% of the consultations a drug was considered to be indicated. Antacids were prescribed in 76%, an anticholinergic drug in 40%, and a histamine-H2-receptor antagonist (cimetidine) in 3%. The latter figure seemed to increase during the 3-year study period, concomitant with a decrease in the prescription rate of anticholinergic drugs. Gastritis was the major indication not only for antacids and anticholinergic drugs but also for cimetidine, accounting for 35% of all cimetidine prescriptions. Total sales of these drugs in 1981 amounted to about SKR 150 million. Antacids comprised 57%, anticholinergic/spasmolytics 22%, and cimetidine 21% of this amount. The extensive drug use is remarkable considering the lack of convincing data from randomized controlled clinical trials supporting a therapeutic effect of any drug regimen in gastritis. More such trials in well-defined patient groups are therefore greatly needed.