Korean J Geriatr Gerontol.  2016 Jun;17(1):22-28. 10.15656/kjcg.2016.17.1.22.

The Association between Esomeprazole and Pneumonia in the Elderly

• Kim YK
• Kim Y
• Shin HG
• Lee DC

• KMID: 2566494
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15656/kjcg.2016.17.1.22

Abstract

Background
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely and routinely used to treat gastric acid-related disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Moreover, due to the characteristics of the elderly, GERD is one of common geriatric diseases, and then PPIs could be prescribed more frequently and longer in the elderly. Thus, in this study, the association between esomeprazole use and the prevalence of pneumonia has been evaluated in the elderly.
Methods
From the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database of Korea from 2007 to 2010, the elderly were selected and separated into subgroups according to the gender (female vs. male) and GERD (GERD vs. non-GERD). Also, esomeprazole was divided into two groups according to the daily dose; ＜40 mg and ≥40 mg. Then, the subjects were subdivided according to the duration of esomeprazole treatment; 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 30 days and ≥31 days. Logistic regression was also performed to identify the association between duration of esomeprazole administration and pneumonia.
Results
The total of 4,091 elderly subjects were selected. However, the association between the use of esomeprazole and the prevalence of pneumonia had been failed to show a significant association (in ＜40 mg esomeprazole group P=0.698, 0.504, 0.961 and 0.682 respectively; in ≥40 mg esomeprazole group, P=0.348, 0.846, 0.01and 0.713 respectively)
Conclusion
The esomeprazole use was not associated with the prevalence of pneumonia in the elderly.

Keyword

Proton pump inhibitor; Pneumonia; Esomeprazole; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; The elderly