Go to content

Postoperative pneumonia in elderly patients receiving acid suppressants: a retrospective cohort analysis

Share

Objective — To test whether gastric acid suppressants are associated with an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia in patients undergoing elective surgery.

Design — Population-wide retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting — Canadian acute care hospitals between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 2008. Patients Consecutive patients aged >65 years admitted for an elective operation.

Outcome Measure — Postoperative pneumonia recorded in inpatient postoperative notes.

Results — A total of 593 265 patients were included, of whom about 21% were taking an acid suppressant (most commonly omeprazole or ranitidine). Overall, 6389 patients developed postoperative pneumonia, with a rate significantly higher for those taking acid suppressants (13 per 1000) than controls (10 per 1000), equivalent to a 30% increase in frequency (odds ratio 1.30 (95% confidence interval 1.23 to 1.38), P<0.001). However, no increase in risk was observed after adjustment for duration of surgery, site of surgery, and other confounders (odds ratio 1.02 (0.96 to 1.09), P=0.48). The general safety of acid suppressants extended to those patients prescribed proton pump inhibitors, experiencing long term treatment, receiving high doses, and undergoing high risk procedures.

Conclusion — After adjustment for patient and surgical characteristics, acid suppressants are not associated with an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia among elderly patients admitted for elective surgery.

Information

Citation

Redelmeier DA, McAlister FA, Kandel CE, Lu H, Daneman N. BMJ. 2010; 340:c2608.

View Source

Contributing ICES Scientists

Research Programs

Associated Sites