Proton pump inhibitor use represents an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction

There is substantial debate regarding the development of acute coronary syndrome in patients using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) combined with clopidogrel. However, data remain limited to address the effect of PPIs alone on the subsequent risk of myocardial infarction (MI). We aimed to explore the subsequent risk of MI in PPI users who had no previous history of MI.

The records of inpatients and outpatients with PPI prescriptions were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2009. We conducted two different study designs, the first using propensity score (PS)-matching analyses and the second using case-crossover analyses. The risk of developing MI for PPI users was analyzed in the PS-matched study. The association between risk of MI and prior PPI exposure was further validated in the case-crossover study.

In the PS-matched study, we included 126,367 PPI users and 126,367 PS-matched PPI non-users. After 120 days of follow-up, PPI use was associated with a 1.58-fold greater risk of MI (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11 to 2.25). In the case-crossover study, adjusted odds ratios of PPI for MI risk were 4.61 (95% CI = 1.76 to 12.07) for the 7-day window and 3.47 (95% CI = 1.76 to 6.83) for the 14-day window.

Use of PPIs may be independently associated with an increased risk of MI. However, the benefits of PPIs may greatly outweigh the risks of adverse cardiovascular effects, with number needed to harm of 4357.