The use of anti-ulcer agents and the risk of chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: We conducted a meta-analysis to explore the association between the use of different anti-ulcer agents and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in various study populations.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant entries up to July 1, 2017. The primary outcomes of the meta-analysis were risk ratios (RRs) of CKD, ESRD, and decline in GFR. We also investigated the heterogeneity of the meta-analysis by subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis.

Results: A total of 662,624 individuals were enrolled in five trials. Compared with non-PPI users, PPI users had a higher trend of CKD (RR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.07-1.25, P < 0.001), especially ESRD (RR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.59-2.06, P < 0.001). There was an elevated risk of adverse renal outcome among participants receiving PPI and not H2RA (CKD: RR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.24-1.33, P < 0.001; ESRD: RR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.17-1.64, P < 0.001; GFR: RR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.26-1.36, P < 0.001). However, H2RA users were not associated with CKD when compared with non-H2RA users (RR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.83-1.25, P = 0.855). In subgroup analysis, the average age of individuals and drug dosage had no influence on the risk of CKD, while duration of PPI exposure from 31 to 720 days is a potential factor in progression to ESRD (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Chronic PPI use, but not H2RAs, is associated with deterioration in kidney function.