MedWire News: Patients who take stomach acid-suppressing drugs called proton pump inhibitors for at least 5 years face an increased risk of osteoporosis-related fractures, say Canadian researchers.
Proton pump inhibitors have proved to be effective medications for people who suffer from acid reflux disease, peptic ulcers and other gastro-oesophageal conditions.
However, Dr William Leslie, from St Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and team explain that proton pump inhibitors may affect bone mineral metabolism by reducing the ability of the small intestine to absorb calcium.
They add: "Recent studies have suggested that the use of proton pump inhibitors for 1 or more years is associated with hip fracture and other osteoporotic fractures; however, there is limited data on additional risk beyond 4 years' exposure."
To investigate further, the researchers used a medical database to identify all residents of Manitoba who suffered osteoporosis-related fractures between 1996 and 2004.
They then compared the use of proton pump inhibitors among these 15,792 patients with that among 47,289 other patients without osteoporosis-related fractures who were of similar age.
The team found that people who had used proton pump inhibitors for at least 5 years were 1.6 times more likely to suffer a hip fracture than those who had never used these drugs.
Furthermore, the use of proton pump inhibitors for at least 7 years was associated with nearly twice the risk of any type of osteoporosis-related fracture. However, the team found no association between a shorter duration of proton pump inhibitor use and an increased risk of bone fractures.
Dr Leslie and team summarise: "Use of proton pump inhibitors for 7 or more years is associated with a significantly increased risk of an osteoporosis-related fracture."
They add: "Further study is required to determine the clinical importance of this finding and to determine the value of osteoprotective medications for patients with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors."
The research is published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.