Risk of community-acquired pneumonia and the use of statins, ace inhibitors and gastric acid suppressants: a population-based case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have shown that treatment with gastric acid suppressants may be associated with an increased risk of pneumonia whilst the use of statins and ACE inhibitors (ACEI) may decrease the risk of acquiring pneumonia. The evidence is conflicting however. Our aim was to investigate the effect of these drugs on pneumonia using population-based data from the UK.


METHODS
We conducted a general population-based case-control study using the health improvement network (THIN), a comprehensive UK general practice database. Conditional multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between the exposures and pneumonia.


RESULTS
After adjusting for potential confounders, a current prescription for statins was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of pneumonia (adjusted OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65-0.94). Similarly, a current prescription for ACEI was associated with a reduction in the risk of pneumonia (adjusted OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.86). Contrary to previous study results we did not find a significant association between current prescription for histamine 2 receptor antagonist (H(2)RA) and pneumonia risk (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.92-1.40) but current prescriptions for proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were associated with an increased risk of pneumonia (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.38-1.77).


CONCLUSIONS
Statins and ACE inhibitors were associated with a lower risk of pneumonia but these effects were smaller than those observed in previous studies. People prescribed a PPI, but not an H(2)RA at an increased risk of acquiring pneumonia.
Myles
Puja R
PR
Division of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Nottingham, Clinical Sciences Building, City Hospital, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK. puja.myles@nottingham.ac.uk
Hubbard
Richard B
RB
McKeever
Tricia M
TM
Pogson
Zara
Z
Smith
Christopher J P
CJ
Gibson
Jack E
JE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000863:Antacids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000863:Antacids; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors