Proton Pump Inhibitor Usage and the Risk of Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients

Long-term inappropriate proton pump inhibitors use (PPIs) is a matter of concern because of the risks associated with their long-term use in older patients with chronic conditions. The risk of PPI treatment in hemodialysis patients remains unexplored.

We assessed the relationship between the use of PPIs and the risk of death in hemodialysis patients throughout a retrospective multicenter propensity score-matched study. Information about demographic, hemodialysis treatment, laboratory data, and concomitant medication was obtained from the EuCliD database (Fresenius Medical Care). We studied 1776 hemodialysis patients on PPI therapy compared to 466 patients not receiving PPIs. The resulting population comprising 2 groups of 410 matched patients was studied.

PPI use was associated with hypomagnesemia (Mg <1.8 mg/dl (0.75 mmol/l); odds ratio [OR] = 2.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-5.27, P < 0.01). The exposure to PPIs in the full patient cohort was identified as an independent predictor for all-cause mortality in both univariate (HR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.69-5.90, P < 0.01) and multivariate (HR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.38-5.27, P < 0.01) Cox regression models. Moreover PPI use was identified as a predictor of CV mortality (HR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.05-2.20, P = 0.03) Of the 820 patients matched throughout the propensity score analysis, the hazard ratios for all-cause mortality (HR = 1.412, 95% CI = 1.04-1.93, P = 0.03) and CV mortality (HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.03-2.71, P = 0.04) were higher among patients on PPIs versus those not on PPIs.

The study data suggest that the PPI treatment should be regularly monitored and prescribed only when indicated.