Individuals who are taking Proton Pump Inhibitors are more likely to suffer from chronic kidney disease than those who are not on these drugs, according to two new studies.
Proton pump inhibitors, abbreviated as PPIs, are most commonly prescribed drugs for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic or stomach ulcers. These drugs are available both as prescription and over the counter (OTC). In the past, these medications have been linked to short-term kidney problems such as acute kidney injury and acute interstitial nephritis, inflammatory kidney disease.
Benjamin Lazarus and his colleagues from Johns Hopkins University conducted the study from 2006-2011. The researchers recruited more than 10,000 healthy adults to determine the chronic kidney disease risk between PPI users and non-users. The survey concluded that PPI users were 20-50 percent more likely to have renal disease than those who did not have history of the drug intake.
Another study conducted by investigators from Buffalo School of Medicine between 2001 and 2008, examined about 71,500 patients. The research led by Dr. Pradeep Arora discovered that more than 24,100 of the participants developed the notorious condition and nearly 26 percent of these patients were treated with PPIs.
The researchers observed that those who used different class of drugs called H2-blockers were not at higher risk of chronic kidney disease. In addition, the experts pointed out that people who took PPIs were less likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, and vascular disease, but they had a 76 percent increased risk of dying early.
“Patients should only use PPIs for FDA-approved indications, and not to treat simple heartburn or indigestion,” said Dr. Pradeep Arora, who led the second study at State University of New York – Buffalo School of Medicine.
Chronic kidney disease is rising remarkably across the globe particularly in the Western nations. The condition occurs when a person’s kidneys become damaged and fail to filter blood as they normally function. Diabetes Mellitus and hypertension are two common risk factors for kidney disease.
It is advised that if you are suffering from upset stomach, hyper-acidity or indigestion, consult your physician before you self medicate with different classes of drugs to relieve the symptoms. IMAGE/iStock
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