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Postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients receiving acid suppressants: a retrospective cohort analysis
Donald A Redelmeier1, Finlay A McAlister, Christopher E Kandel
1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Objective:
To test whether gastric acid suppressants are associated with an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing elective surgery.
Design:
Population-wide retrospective cohort analysis.
Setting:
Canadian acute care hospitals between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 2008. Patients Consecutive patients aged >65 years admitted for an elective operation.
Outcome Measure:
Postoperative pneumonia recorded in inpatient postoperative notes.
Results:
A total of 593 265 patients were included, of whom about 21% were taking an acid suppressant (most commonly omeprazole or ranitidine). Overall, 6389 patients developed postoperative pneumonia, with a rate significantly higher for those taking acid suppressants (13 per 1000) than controls (10 per 1000), equivalent to a 30% increase in frequency (odds ratio 1.30 (95% confidence interval 1.23 to 1.38), P<0.001). However, no increase in risk was observed after adjustment for duration of surgery, site of surgery, and other confounders (odds ratio 1.02 (0.96 to 1.09), P=0.48). The general safety of acid suppressants extended to those patients prescribed proton pump inhibitors, experiencing long term treatment, receiving high doses, and undergoing high risk procedures.
Conclusion:
After adjustment for patient and surgical characteristics, acid suppressants are not associated with an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia among elderly patients admitted for elective surgery.
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