Study Links Long-Term Use of Heartburn Medication to Increased Mortality

Introduction to Heartburn Medications

Heartburn medications are among the most frequently prescribed drugs in North America, utilized both with and without a physician’s prescription. Despite their popularity, the extensive and often unnecessary use of these medications may pose significant long-term health risks.

Prevalence of Heartburn Medication Use

In the United States, heartburn and acid reflux medications are prevalent, with over 15 million active prescriptions at any given time, in addition to substantial over-the-counter sales. A considerable number of these prescriptions are for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which work by reducing stomach acid production.

Previous Research Insights

Earlier studies have indicated a link between PPI use and an elevated risk of premature death. However, there was a lack of quantitative data detailing specific conditions and causes of death related to PPI usage.

New Research Findings

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine conducted a quantitative study to evaluate mortality rates among PPI users. Their findings were published in the BMJ and analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including approximately 157,000 patients prescribed PPIs and about 56,000 prescribed H2 blockers, another type of heartburn medication.

Increased Mortality Risk Associated with PPIs

The study tracked these patients over a decade and revealed that those prescribed PPIs faced a 17 percent higher risk of mortality compared to those on H2 blockers. The death rates observed were 387 per 1,000 for PPI users versus 342 per 1,000 for H2 blocker users. The primary causes of death identified included cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and gastrointestinal cancer. Remarkably, these adverse effects occurred even at low doses and in patients with no prior medical requirement for PPIs. Additionally, a history of these conditions did not alter the association between PPI use and mortality risk.

Implications and Recommendations

This recent study corroborates previous findings linking heartburn medications to increased mortality risks. The authors recommend that individuals avoid using these drugs unless medically necessary and that their use should be restricted to the lowest effective dose and shortest duration possible. Prolonged and unnecessary use of PPIs may prove to be more detrimental than beneficial over time.

Conclusion

The research underscores the importance of re-evaluating the necessity of heartburn medications, particularly proton pump inhibitors, to safeguard long-term health.

References

Xie Y et al. Estimates of all cause mortality and cause specific mortality associated with proton pump inhibitors among US veterans: cohort study. BMJ. 2019 May 29;365:l1580. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l1580.
WUSTLnews. Heartburn drugs linked to fatal heart and kidney disease, stomach cancer. EurekAlert! https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-05/wuis-hdl053019.php.
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