Another Look at PPI Use and COVID-19

In several studies, use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) was associated with severe COVID-19 (e.g., NEJM JW Gen Med Dec 15 2020 and Gut 2020 Nov 10; [e-pub] and J Intern Med 2021; 289:125). Now, another study points in the same direction.

Korean researchers analyzed data from their national claims database, which includes complete data on SARS-CoV-2 testing, COVID-19 outcomes, and PPI prescribing (PPIs require a prescription in Korea). About 11% of 132,000 people tested for SARS-CoV-2 were current PPI users. In propensity-score–matched analyses that were adjusted for differing baseline characteristics, PPI users and nonusers had similar probabilities of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, among the 4800 people who tested positive for S…