Association between Antacid Exposure and Risk of Interstitial Lung Diseases

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The underlying mechanisms of lung fibrosis remain incompletely understood.
• This research investigates the potential protective role of antacids against interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if antacid usage, specifically proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H-2 blockers), can prevent the onset of ILD.
• To examine the association between antacid exposure and the incidence of ILD and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Main Methods:

• A population-based longitudinal cohort study in South Korea (2006-2010) included adults aged 40+ without prior ILD.
• Exposure to antacids (PPIs ± H-2 blockers or H-2 blockers alone) was defined by treatment duration (>14 days).
• Cox regression models analyzed the association between antacid exposure and new ILD/IPF diagnoses, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• Antacid exposure was independently linked to a reduced risk of developing ILD (HR, 0.57; p<0.001).
• The incidence of ILD was 43.2/100,000 person-years in the antacid group versus 33.8/100,000 in the non-exposed group.
• Antacid exposure did not show a significant association with the development of IPF (HR, 0.88; p=0.06).

Conclusions:

• Antacid usage may be independently associated with a decreased risk of developing interstitial lung disease.
• The findings suggest a potential preventative role for antacids in ILD, but not specifically IPF.