Table 1.

Evidence to recommendations table: Does deprescribing PPIs (dose reduction, on-demand use, abrupt discontinuation, stepping down to H2RA therapy) compared with continuous PPI use result in benefits or harms for adults > 18 y (excluding those with history of bleeding ulcer, Barrett esophagus, and severe esophagitis grade C and D) in primary care and long-term care settings?

DECISION DOMAINSUMMARY OF REASON FOR DECISIONSUBDOMAINS INFLUENCING DECISION
QoE: Is there high- or moderate-quality evidence
Yes □ No ☑ (See references 116 in the evidence reviews at CFPlus*)
The QoE for symptom relapse with deprescribing is low
• Low-dose PPIs did not lead to significantly greater relapses than standard-dose PPIs did (RR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.44); on-demand PPI use and step down to an H2RA increased risk of symptom relapse compared with continuous PPI use (RR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.23, and RR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.58, respectively)

QoE for benefits with on-demand use: moderate
• Lower pill burden: 3.5 fewer pills per week (95% CI −4.89 to −2.18)

Balance of benefits and harms: Is there certainty that the benefits outweigh the harms?
Yes ☑ No □ (See the description of harms and references 1720 in the evidence reviews at CFPlus*)
Our systematic review showed that low-dose PPIs did not lead to a significantly higher GI relapse rate compared with standard doses. On-demand PPI use reduced pill burden. Cost, rare PPI side effects, and drug interactions were noted as potential concerns for continuous PPI use. Low-dose PPIs were thus considered to clearly have greater benefits than harms. On-demand PPI use and a step-down approach to H2RAs were also noted to have benefits over harms, but this was not as certain as the other deprescribing approachIs the baseline risk for benefit similar across subgroups? Yes ☑ No □
• No evidence that benefits are different in subgroups

Should there be separate recommendations for subgroups based on risk levels? Yes □ No ☑
• No evidence of benefit for any risk level

Is the baseline risk for harm similar across subgroups? Yes ☑ No □
• No evidence that harms would be different for subgroups

Should there be separate recommendations for subgroups based on harms? Yes □ No ☑
• No evidence for harms in subgroups

Values and preferences: Is there confidence in the estimate of relative importance of outcomes and patient preferences?
Yes □ No ☑ (See references 13 and 2125 in the evidence reviews at CFPlus*)
In semistructured interviews patients reported that they believed PPIs were effective for preventing GI symptoms. However, it was also noted that most patients with GERD do not take their PPIs on a regular basis, and this has led to on-demand PPI research. Dose-lowering studies did not report patient satisfaction, while on-demand studies did not provide clear evidence on patient satisfactionPerspective taken: the guideline group put high value on the lack of evidence of serious harms of deprescribing and on the reduction of medications and related harms and medication costs. Less value was placed on lack of information to determine the variability of patient values and preferences on different deprescribing approaches
Source of values and preferences: semistructured interviews and other qualitative studies
Source of variability, if any: variability difficult to estimate
Method for determining values satisfactory for this recommendation? Yes ☑ No □
• Clear preference to use PPIs to prevent GERD, but also evidence for on-demand and other reduced-dose use

All critical outcomes measured? Yes ☑ No □
In Canada, PPI use accounts for a high proportion of public drug program spending ($249.6 million in 2013). The recommended treatment duration for GERD, the most common GI symptom, is 4 wk; thus much of this PPI use is inappropriate. Several studies have demonstrated interventions to reduce PPIs are feasible. On-demand trials led to reduced pill burden. The cost of stopping PPIs, however, should be balanced against possible increased visits to physicians. Cost-effectiveness analyses were not availableFeasibility: Is this intervention generally available? Yes ☑ No □ Opportunity cost: Is this intervention and its effects worth withdrawing or not allocating resources from other interventions? Yes ☑ No □ • The budget for PPIs is$69 million, and inappropriate PPI use is a considerable problem in adults and the elderly