Background: Despite deprescribing initiatives to curb overutilization of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), achieving meaningful reductions in PPI use is proving a challenge. Summary: An international group of primary care doctors and gastroenterologists examined the literature surrounding PPI use and use-reduction to clarify: (i) what constitutes rational PPI prescribing; (ii) when and in whom PPI use-reduction should be attempted; and (iii) what strategies to use when attempting PPI use-reduction. Key Messages: Before starting a PPI for reflux-like symptoms, patients should be educated on potential causes and alternative approaches including dietary and lifestyle modification, weight loss, and relaxation strategies. When commencing a PPI, patients should understand the reason for treatment, planned duration, and review date. PPI use at hospital discharge should not be continued without a recognized indication for long-term treatment. Long-term PPI therapy should be reviewed at least annually. PPI use-reduction should be based on the lack of a rational indication for long-term PPI use, not concern for PPI-associated adverse events. PPI use-reduction strategies involving switching to on-demand PPI or dose tapering, with rescue therapy for rebound symptoms, are more likely to succeed than abrupt cessation.

Primary care healthcare professionals (PCHPs) are pivotal in managing chronic diseases and present a unique opportunity for nutrition-related disease prevention. However, the active involvement of PCHPs in nutritional care is limited, influenced by factors like insufficient education, lack of resources, and time constraints. In this position paper The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) promotes the active engagement of PCHPs in nutritional care. We emphasize the importance of early detection of malnutrition by screening and diagnosis, particularly in all individuals presenting with risk factors such as older age, chronic disease, post-acute disease conditions and after hospitalization for any cause. ESPEN proposes a strategic roadmap to empower PCHPs in clinical nutrition, focusing on education, tools, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The aim is to integrate nutrition into medical curricula, provide simple screening tools for primary care, and establish referral pathways to address malnutrition systematically. In conclusion, we urge for collaboration with PCHP organizations to raise awareness, enhance nutrition skills, facilitate dietitian accessibility, establish multidisciplinary teams, and promote referral pathways, thereby addressing the underestimated clinical challenge of malnutrition in primary care. (c) 2024 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.

Heartburn and regurgitation are extremely common in Western societies, largely driven by obesity, age-related anatomical degradation of anti-reflux mechanisms, dietary, and psychological factors. Widespread diagnosis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) has led to liberal prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to ameliorate these symptoms. This strategy of first-line acid suppression is somewhat unsatisfactory for reflux-like symptoms for several reasons: 1) it equates all symptoms with a ‘disease’, regardless of their frequency, intensity, or potential morbidity; 2) it ignores symptom determinants other than acid reflux; and 3) it needlessly medicalises harmless symptoms compounding patient fear and hypervigilance, often reducing quality of life and driving healthcare utilisation.