The American Gastroenterological Association has released a new Clinical Practice Update providing best practice advice on how to approach de-prescribing proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in ambulatory patients. See the AGA website information here.
Experts say even though studies have linked proton pump inhibitor use to multiple health problems, the scientific evidence overall is weak, which should help providers reassure concerned patients and avoid unnecessary discontinuation of PPI use. The attention on PPI safety, however, does offer an opportunity for practitioners to discuss limiting use of the drugs because
A study found 17.7% of patients who had primary laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery experienced recurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. For patients who had recurrent reflux, 16.4% had a second surgery and 83.6% went on long-term anti-reflux medication. Study: 17.7% of patients get GERD after anti-reflux surgery
“Data on risk of dementia from PPIs conflicts with earlier publications”
An NIH-supported study of 10,486 patients found no link between proton pump inhibitor use and patient risks for mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, based on patient-reported data of PPI use. The data, reported in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, contradict findings of two other recent studies. “The current findings do not
