Research into long-term proton pump inhibitor use among older adults has led to cautions over pneumonia risk.

Long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in older adults is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia, research has shown[1].

Researchers studied data from England on 75,050 people aged 60 years and over who received a PPI for a year or longer and compared them with an equal number of matched controls.

The team found that the risk of pneumonia in the second year after initiating PPI treatment was 82% greater than among controls. Estimates were similar across age and comorbidity subgroups.

“Our findings support the need for caution in long-term prescribing of PPIs to older adults,” said the researchers in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society (20 April 2018).