Based on a new study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and published in the journal PLOS One, individuals who regularly use a specific heartburn medication over a long period of time may have inadvertently increased their chances of experiencing an adverse cardiac event.
Tracing medical records that stretch to nearly 300,000 United States adults with acid reflux disease (heartburn) researchers discovered that the risk of suffering a heart attack became more prevalent among those using proton pump inhibitors. These proton pump inhibitors are a cohort of acid suppressing drugs that constitute well-known brands like Prevacid, Prilosec, and Nexium. However, the study does not directly prove the drugs cause heart attacks, which has caused a division of opinion surrounding the subject.
What’s more other heartburn medications with H2-blockers such as Zantac, Pepcid, and Tagamet were not tied to any increased risk in suffering a heart attack, the study notes. Therefore, it is probable the increased risk of heart attack comes from the overextended use of proton pump inhibitors.
“These are powerful drugs, and we already know they have negative effects. Most of those long-term risks are linked to the drug’s suppression of stomach acids,” said surgical director at the Scott and White Heartburn and Acid Reflux Center, in Round Rock, Texas, Dr. F. Paul Buckley III.
When stomach acids are obstructed in any way, the body cannot absorb certain nutrients which comprise of magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B12. What’s more, proton pump inhibitors have been tied to issues like the loss of bone density and fractures. Some research also points out that the medication can also interfere with the clot-preventing drug Plavix, curbing its effectiveness.
The study reports that 16 percent to 21 percent of proton pump inhibitor users were more likely to experience an adverse cardiac event than those with chronic acid reflux, but were not taking the drugs. However, chair of cardiovascular sciences at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Dr. John Cooke notes that the link does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
“You have to be cautious with observational data like this. There could be other explanations. For one, people on proton pump inhibitors may be in worse health than non-users. Recent lab research suggests that proton pump inhibitors can interfere with normal blood vessel function, a potential mechanism by which the drugs could affect heart attack risk.”
Yet other experts of cardiology do not agree the study is able to make a direct link between risk of heart attack and proton pump inhibitors.
“This is an association, and not cause-and effect. And I think it’s more likely the association comes from confounding factors. One issue is that the findings are based on patient records, including doctors’ notes. That type of information is not the best source for linking a drug to a negative effect. A study that followed proton pump inhibitors users over time, specifically tracking heart attack risk, would offer better evidence,” said Dr. Venu Menon, from the Cleveland Clinic.
Cooke agreed in theory, but still has concerns on the fact that proton pump inhibitors are available for purchase over-the-counter; and that people take them for the wrong reasons for far too long.
