In the last two decades, the use of gastric acid suppressant drugs such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and/or histamine-2 receptor agonists (H2RAs) has increased. With the increase in use in children, more attention is being paid to possible adverse effects of these drugs. Previous studies in adults have shown that patients using these drugs have a higher risk in developing a pneumonia in comparison to patients without gastric acid suppressants.
Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection that especially affects the lungs. It is one of the most prevalent childhood infections, that is still the leading cause of death in developing countries and in high income countries it is a frequent reason for hospital admission. In children, the number of studies investigating the risk of developing a pneumonia while using these drugs is limited. As the use of gastric acid suppressants has also strongly increased in children, we find it important to further clarify the possible adverse effects of gastric acid suppressant drugs on developing pneumonia in children.
The study objective is to evaluate the risk of developing a community-acquired pneumonia in children using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and/or histamine-2 receptor agonists (H2RAs). Within the CPRD, all patients aged <18 years with at least one prescription of PPI or H2RA will be selected. The exposure of interest is occurrence of community acquired pneumonia. Exposure will be assessed in a time-dependent manner; with groups distinguishing between current, recent, past and distant past use. Cox proportional hazard models will be used to derive hazard ratios for the association between use of acid suppressants and the risk of developing a community-acquired pneumonia.
Community acquired pneumonia.
Hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia.
Mortality related to community-acquired pneumonia.
Frank de Vries - Chief Investigator - Utrecht University
Frank de Vries - Corresponding Applicant - Utrecht University
Edward Dompeling - Collaborator - Maastricht University Medical Centre
Ewoudt van de Garde - Collaborator - Utrecht University
Jan Coremans - Collaborator - Maastricht University Medical Centre
Johanna Driessen - Collaborator - Utrecht University
Linda van der Sande - Collaborator - Maastricht University Medical Centre
Michiel Bannier - Collaborator - Maastricht University Medical Centre
Quirijn Jöbsis - Collaborator - Maastricht University Medical Centre
HES Admitted Patient Care;ONS Death Registration Data