Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), widely recognized as Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid, are commonly prescribed medications used by around 10% of American adults to manage heartburn, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Researchers from the University of California San Diego conducted a study to explore the potential risks of PPIs on kidney health.
Their investigation involved the analysis of data from the FAERS database, which contains over 10 million patient records detailing voluntary reports of adverse effects associated with medication use.
The study focused on patients who exclusively used PPIs, encompassing approximately 43,000 individuals.
Additionally, they established a control group of approximately 8,000 patients who relied on histamine-2 receptor blockers, such as Zantac or Pepcid, without any other medications.
The study’s findings were alarming. Patients who solely consumed PPIs reported kidney-related adverse reactions at a rate of 5.6%, a stark contrast to the 0.7% rate observed among patients exclusively using histamine-2 receptor antagonists.
Compared to the control group, patients relying solely on PPIs were 28.4 times more likely to report chronic kidney disease.
Furthermore, they exhibited a higher likelihood of experiencing acute kidney injury (4.2 times more likely), end-stage renal disease (35.5 times more likely), and unspecified kidney impairment (8 times more likely).
Additionally, patients taking PPIs displayed an increased likelihood of encountering electrolyte abnormalities. However, the degree of impact varied among individual PPIs, while the kidney-specific effects were consistent across all five PPIs examined.
Implications and Consequences
While the World Health Organization acknowledges the essential role of PPIs in alleviating symptoms that can be painful and disruptive to daily life for many individuals, this study’s findings suggest that these medications may elevate the risk of kidney disease.
The researchers anticipate that these initial findings will encourage healthcare providers to offer appropriate warnings, education, and monitoring to patients requiring PPIs, especially those already at a heightened risk of kidney disease.
In light of these results, it’s also worthwhile to revisit a 2017 UC San Diego School of Medicine study that revealed evidence in both mice and humans suggesting that PPIs contribute to chronic liver disease.
For further insights into kidney health, consider exploring studies on improving outcomes for chronic kidney disease and the potential kidney damage caused by commonly used heartburn medications.
The study, led by Ruben Abagyan and colleagues, was published in Scientific Reports.
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