Gastrointestinal medication burden among persons with the Ehlers‐Danlos syndromes. Issue 7 (3rd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dhingra, Radha; Bascom, Rebecca; Thompson, Elizabeth; Francomano, Clair A.; Schubart, Jane R.
• Is Part Of: Neurogastroenterology & motility. Volume 33:Issue 7(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-01-03
• Subjects: Ehlers‐Danlos syndromes -- gastrointestinal medications -- prescription claims -- visceral hypersensitivity drugs; Gastrointestinal system -- Motility -- Periodicals; Gastrointestinal system -- Innervation -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-1925

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: The Ehlers‐Danlos syndromes (EDSs) are a group of heritable disorders of connective tissue associated with an increased prevalence of both structural and functional GI conditions. Methods: We used 10 years (2005–2014) of administrative claims data comprised of 4294 people with clinician‐diagnosed EDS, aged 5–62 years, and compared their frequency of GI drug prescription claims to their age‐, sex‐, state of residence‐, and earliest claim date‐matched controls. We categorized the GI medications into the following groups: acid suppressants, anti‐emetics, irritable bowel syndrome drugs, and visceral hypersensitivity (VHS) medications. Key Results: Compared to controls, a significantly higher proportion of persons with EDS had prescription claims for at least one GI drug group, as well as for drugs in each of the four GI drug groups included in our study. By age‐group, 25.7% children and 45.1% adults with EDS had prescription claims for at least one GI drug group compared with only 7.4% and 21.0% of controls, respectively ( p < 0.0001). By gender, 44.0% of women and 25.3% of men with EDS had prescription claims for at least one class of GI drugs compared with 19.2% and 9.6% of controls, respectively ( p < 0.0001). Conclusions and Key Inferences: Predominant medication burden occurs among women with EDS, beginning peri‐pubertally for anti‐emetics and VHS drugs. High GI medication burden underscores previous evidence that GI dysmotility is common among persons with EDS. Abstract : 44% of women and 25.3% of men with EDS had prescription claims for at least one class of GI drugs compared with 19.2% and 9.6% of controls, respectively ( P < .0001). Note the peripubertal increase in GI prescriptions among women with EDS, which adds to the evidence of worsening EDS disease burden among peripubertal females, as well as a critical time window for future research.