Long-term PPI use linked to increased risk for stroke and MI

Thomas S. G. Sehested et al. in a nationwide study identified individuals with no prior history of MI or stroke who had an elective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed between 1997 and 2012.They examined the correlation between current PPI use/dose and the risk of first-time ischemic stroke and MI. The researchers evaluated 214,998 patients without any history of atherosclerotic disease, who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, to determine the association of PPIs use, duration, and dose with the risk for ischemic stroke and MI.Overall 7,916 ischemic strokes and 5,608 MIs were reported.

It was found that PPIs use was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.19) and MI (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.23-1.39). High-dose PPI use was linked to increased risk of ischemic stroke (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.21-1.42) and MI (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.30-1.57). Histamine H2 receptor antagonists use was not significantly associated with ischemic stroke (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.84-1.24) and MI (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.92-1.43). Long-term PPI users compared with non-PPI users had a 29% (absolute risk ratio [ARR], 1.29) higher absolute risk for ischemic stroke and 36% (ARR, 1.36) higher risk for MI within a 6-month period.