A comparative analysis of the cost effectiveness, side effects, and efficacy of various proton pump inhibitors for the treatment of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease

Objective: This study aimed at comparing the efficacy, side effect and cost of different proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in Saudi Arabian patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn. Methods: The cross-sectional comparative analysis study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. Random sampling was employed to identify adult patients (aged 18 years and above) with GERD and/or heartburn on the prescription of PPIs using social media and public spaces. A verified and reliable questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: Heartburn and/or GERD were evident among 578 participants, making it 59.8%. The research was carried out with 253 participants. The PPIs did not differ significantly in terms of the cost (p-value = 0.810) or efficacy (p-value = 0.449); there were significant differences in the reported side effects (p-value = 0.012). Out of the individuals undergoing upper endoscopies, 17.5% were positive with hiatal hernia, 33.0% with esophagitis, and 41.2% with gastritis. Conclusion: The prevalence of GERD and heartburn was very high in Saudi Arabia. Despite the similarity of PPIs in efficacy and cost, the differences in side effects and affordability must be considered to make a personalized treatment decision. Addressing self-medication would bring better outcomes to patients.