08/31/2020
On July 7th, 2020, The American Journal of Gastroenterology reported that the use of PPIs appears to increase the risk of COVID-19. Proton Pump Inhibitors are commonly used to reduce stomach acid and relieve symptoms of gastric reflux. The survey of 53,130 adult Americans found that there is a dose-response relationship between the amount of acid suppression and the risk of COVID-19. Compared to those not using PPIs, those taking twice-daily PPIs registered a 3.7-fold increased odds of COVID-19. In contrast, people taking less powerful drugs such as famotidine or cimetidine were not at increased risk for COVID-19. Clinicians should consider whether twice-daily PPI dosing is necessary for individual patients, particularly those who are most vulnerable for severe COVID-19 and if alternative treatments might be used.
https://webfiles.gi.org/links/media/ACG_Almario_et_al_Info_Sheet_and_FAQs_About_PPIs_COVID19_07072020_FINAL.pdf