Heartburn Medications May Increase Pneumonia Risk

US Pharm. 2011;36(1):6. 

Seoul, South Korea--A recent article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal indicates that the use of acid-suppressive drugs such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine₂ receptor antagonists may increase the risk of pneumonia. The systematic review showed that one of every 200 inpatients receiving these drugs will develop hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Some earlier studies found a possible connection between acid suppressants and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Since 40% to 70% of hospitalized patients receive acid suppressants, it is possible that some cases of mortality from HAP are due to these drugs, and the impact of acid suppressants on CAP could be much greater.