Effect of proton pump inhibitors versus histamine-2 receptor antagonists on acute kidney injury in septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers

Pharmacotherapy. 2024 Jul;44(7):539-548. doi: 10.1002/phar.2947. Epub 2024 Jun 20.

Abstract

Background: To compare the effects of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) use on the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers.

Methods: Using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV version 2.2 database, septic patients with high-risk factors for stress ulcers (i.e., shock, coagulopathy, invasive mechanical ventilation, or chronic liver diseases) were included. Exposures included PPIs and H2RAs within 24 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or prior to ICU admission. The primary end point was severe sepsis-associated AKI as defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria stage 3 (KDIGO-3). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the effect size.

Results: 4731 PPI users and 4903 H2RA users were included. After PSM, there were 1785 pairs exposed to PPIs and H2RAs. In the PSM cohort, the cumulative incident KDIGO-3 rate was higher in the PPI group than in the H2RA group (log-rank test, p = 0.009). Regression analyses showed that PPI exposure [adjusted hazard ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.58, p = 0.002] was associated with incident KDIGO-3 compared with H2RA use. This association remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. Additionally, the PPI group had a higher need for kidney replacement therapy compared with the H2RA group (3.6% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.012).

Conclusions: Among septic patients at high risk for developing stress ulcers, PPI exposure was associated with incident KDIGO-3 AKI compared with H2RA use.

Keywords: acute kidney injury; histamine‐2 receptor antagonists; proton pump inhibitors; sepsis; stress ulcer prophylaxis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury*
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists* / adverse effects
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptic Ulcer / complications
  • Peptic Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Propensity Score
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors* / administration & dosage
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sepsis* / complications

Substances

  • Proton Pump Inhibitors
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists