Effectiveness of Rabeprazole and Other Proton Pump Inhibitors in Managing GERD with Varying Severity: A Retrospective, Real-world EMR-based Study (POWER GERD Study)

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of rabeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in providing symptomatic relief in patients with varying severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, electronic medical records (EMRs) of GERD patients prescribed with PPIs at two Indian clinics/hospitals were reviewed (2016-2020). Rabeprazole's effectiveness was assessed at different follow-up visits and compared with other PPIs. Results: Overall, 269 patients (moderate and severe GERD: 84.39%) were included in three groups, viz rabeprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole groups. A significant proportion of patients experienced quick and complete symptomatic relief at visit 1 with rabeprazole compared to the baseline visit, which gradually increased till visit 4 for both daytime [viz heartburn (38.78-93.88%; p < 0.001)] and nocturnal symptoms [viz sleep disturbances (62.92-97.75%; p < 0.001)]. Rabeprazole provided quick relief at visit 1 when compared with pantoprazole for daytime heartburn (38.78 vs 5.56%; p = 0.01), daytime epigastric pain (66.04 vs 12.12%; p = 0.049), and nocturnal water brash (60.71 vs 16.13%; p = 0.015), and when compared with esomeprazole for nocturnal nausea (82.61 vs 20.00%; p = 0.013). Further, the proportion of patients exhibiting complete treatment response was relatively higher in the rabeprazole group (83.33%) than in the pantoprazole (62.07%) and esomeprazole (65.67%) groups at visit 4. Conclusion: Rabeprazole was effective in providing quick and sustained relief for both daytime and nocturnal GERD symptoms in patients with moderate and severe GERD. Rabeprazole also demonstrated greater effectiveness when compared with pantoprazole and esomeprazole in reducing the severity of multiple GERD symptoms. How to cite this article: Lawate P, Jilawar N, Vyas K, et al. Effectiveness of Rabeprazole and Other Proton Pump Inhibitors in Managing GERD with Varying Severity: A Retrospective, Real-world EMR-based Study (POWER GERD Study). J Assoc Physicians India 2023;71(10):37-44.