Am J Med. 2020 Sep 12:S0002-9343(20)30776-2. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.08.004. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is common among the critically ill. Recently, the Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) vs. Histamine-2 Receptor Blockers (H2RAs) for Ulcer Prophylaxis Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit (PEPTIC) trial suggested PPIs might increase mortality. We performed an updated meta-analysis to further inform discussion.
METHODS: We leveraged two recent systematic reviews to identify randomized controlled trials directly comparing PPIs and H2RAs for stress ulcer prophylaxis in critically ill patients and reporting mortality. We extracted mortality data from each study and meta-analyzed them with the PEPTIC trial, using a random effects model.
RESULTS: Of 28559 total patients, 14436 (50.5%) were allocated to PPI and 14123 to H2RAs (49.5%). Compared to H2RAs, the pooled relative risk for mortality was 1.05 (95%CI 1.00 - 1.10) with an estimated risk difference for mortality of 9 additional deaths per 1000 patients exposed to PPI (95%CI 0 to 18); heterogeneity was low (I-squared 0%; p=0.826).
CONCLUSIONS: Stress ulcer prophylaxis with PPIs likely increases mortality compared to H2RAs. Whether stress ulcer prophylaxis is beneficial in critical care remains open to further study.
PMID:32931766 | DOI:10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.08.004