The impact of proton pump inhibitor therapy on patients with liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy has been reported to be an independent mortality risk factor in patients with cirrhosis.

AIM: To identify the prevalence of PPI prescription, the appropriateness of this therapy and to investigate the relationship between PPI therapy and overall survival in patients with liver disease.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used patient data for 2012 to 2014 collected from the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit and the Hepatology Ward at the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

RESULTS: A total of 64% of the 198 patients discharged from the Hepatology ward were prescribed a PPI. Of the 206 patients assessed and listed for orthotopic liver transplant (OLT), 55% were prescribed a PPI. These percentages are significant, particularly as the majority had no recorded appropriate indication for this therapy. For patients listed for OLT, a logistic regression model revealed significant associations between PPI treatment and male sex, higher model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores and patient encephalopathy. A multivariate Cox regression model showed that MELD and UK model for end-stage liver disease scores were independent predictors of patient mortality, while alcoholic liver disease aetiology was a protective factor. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients who were prescribed a PPI at assessment and those who were not.

CONCLUSION: Associations between PPI use, encephalopathy and higher MELD scores imply caution should be exercised in prescribing gastric acid suppressants to patients with cirrhosis, particularly in the absence of clear indications.