Abstract
Gastric acid suppression promotes allergy in mechanistic animal experiments and observational human studies, but whether gastric acid inhibitors increase allergy incidence at a population level remains uncharacterized. Here we aim to assess the use of anti-allergic medication following prescription of gastric acid inhibitors. We analyze data from health insurance records covering 97% of Austrian population between 2009 and 2013 on prescriptions of gastric acid inhibitors, anti-allergic drugs, or other commonly prescribed (lipid-modifying and antihypertensive) drugs as controls. Here we show that rate ratios for anti-allergic following gastric acid-inhibiting drug prescriptions are 1.96 (95%CI:1.95–1.97) and 3.07 (95%-CI:2.89–3.27) in an overall and regional Austrian dataset. These findings are more prominent in women and occur for all assessed gastric acid-inhibiting substances. Rate ratios increase from 1.47 (95%CI:1.45–1.49) in subjects <20 years, to 5.20 (95%-CI:5.15–5.25) in > 60 year olds. We report an epidemiologic relationship between gastric acid-suppression and development of allergic symptoms.
Highlights
Gastric acid suppression promotes allergy in mechanistic animal experiments and observational human studies, but whether gastric acid inhibitors increase allergy incidence at a population level remains uncharacterized
Anti-ulcer drugs are intended for the prevention and treatment of acid-related disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT)
The view on pump inhibitor (PPI) as harmless co-medication has increasingly been challenged by reports of potentially related complications, e.g., increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, Clostridium difficile or other enteric infections[7,8], pneumonia, and many more[9], especially in long-term usage[10]
Summary
Gastric acid suppression promotes allergy in mechanistic animal experiments and observational human studies, but whether gastric acid inhibitors increase allergy incidence at a population level remains uncharacterized. We aim to assess the use of anti-allergic medication following prescription of gastric acid inhibitors. PPIs reduce symptoms in gastroesophageal reflux and dyspepsia or promote healing of peptic ulcers[1], and are applied for long-term usage such as in eosinophilic esophagitis, or as co-medication with NSAIDs such as in cardiovascular diseases or chronic pain. Their favorable safety profile has led to over-prescription by physicians[2], resulting in the fact that 44.9% of internal and 23.3% of surgical patients are already prescribed a PPI with hospital admission[3]. Our recent study in a mouse model corroborates the assumption that
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
