Association between acid-suppressant use and self-reported stroke.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• The link between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and stroke is debated, with limited research on H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs).
• This study investigates the association between PPIs, H2RAs, and overall acid-suppressive medication use and stroke incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between acid-suppressive medication use and stroke.
• To analyze data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 1999-2018.

Main Methods:

• Utilized NHANES data on prescription medication use and self-reported stroke history.
• Employed propensity score matching (PSM) to control for confounding variables.
• Conducted weighted multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analyses.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between acid-suppressive medication use and stroke, both before and after PSM (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.10-1.60).
• H2RA use showed a consistent significant association with stroke.
• The association between PPI use and stroke was less stable, reaching borderline significance.

Conclusions:

• Acid-suppressive medication use is linked to a higher likelihood of stroke.
• Limitations include the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data.
• Further investigation is warranted to validate these findings.