New study examines long-term effects of common heartburn medications on kidney and cardiovascular health
A new study from Karolinska Institutet suggests that some widely used heartburn medications may be linked to kidney problems over time. Researchers followed nearly 300,000 patients for up to 15 years to explore how these drugs might affect kidney and heart health.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, are commonly prescribed to treat acid-related conditions like reflux and ulcers. While they are effective at protecting the stomach, questions have been raised about their long-term safety. The new study, published in Scientific Reports, examined whether PPIs are connected to chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular events, and overall mortality.
The research team, led by Fernando Seoane at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), used a method called process mining to track how diseases develop over time. This approach allowed them to visualize the sequence of health events in patients who started taking PPIs or H2 blockers (another type of acid-reducing drug) between 2007 and 2020.
The results showed that people who used PPIs had a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease compared to those who used H2 blockers. Although no direct link was found between PPI use and heart problems after accounting for death as a competing risk, the data suggested an indirect connection: PPI use was linked to kidney disease, which in turn increased the risk of cardiovascular complications.
The study also found that PPI users had a higher rate of death from all causes. Researchers believe this may be partly due to poorer health at the start of treatment and the development of kidney disease.
“Our research shows that understanding disease as a dynamic process, rather than a static endpoint, can transform how we predict, prevent, and treat illness. By mapping real-world trajectories, we hope to build a foundation for more informed decisions and ultimately better outcomes for patients”, says Kaile Chen, PhD student at CLINTEC.
The study used data from the Stockholm CREAtinine Measurements (SCREAM) project, which includes health records from residents in the Stockholm region. The researchers adjusted for factors like age, sex, kidney function, other illnesses, and medications.
While the results are based on observational data, the authors hope future clinical trials will help confirm the findings and guide safer use of PPIs.
Publication
Longitudinal trajectories unravel the complex interplay of medication, cardiovascular events, chronic kidney disease, and mortality. Chen, K., Abtahi, F., Fernandez-Llatas, C. et al. Scientific Reports 15, 35577 (2025).