Gastric Acid Suppression Therapy and its Association with Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis in the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS)

Abstract

Background: Peritonitis is a major peritoneal dialysis (PD) related complication. We determined whether gastric acid suppression (GAS) (proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RA)) use was associated with all-cause and organism-specific peritonitis in PD patients. Methods: In the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (595 facilities, 8 countries, years 2014-2022), associations between GAS use and time to first episode of all-cause peritonitis were examined using Cox proportional hazards models. The primary exposure of interest was GAS, and secondarily PPI or H2RA use. Secondary outcomes were organism-specific peritonitis, peritonitis cure rates, and death. Results: Among patients (n=23 797) at study baseline, 6020 (25.3%) used PPIs, and 1382 (5.8%) used H2RAs. Overall risks of GAS use and peritonitis risk [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR)=1.05 (95% CI 0.98-1.13)], and use of PPI [AHR 1.06 (95% CI 0.99-1.14)] or H2RA [AHR 1.02 (95% CI 0.88-1.18)] did not reach statistical significance. In organism-specific analyses, GAS users displayed higher peritonitis risks for gram-negative (AHR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.57), gram-positive (AHR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.31), culture-negative (AHR 1.20, 95% CI 1.01-1.42), enteric (AHR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03-1.48), and particularly Streptococcal (AHR 1.47, 95% CI 1.15-1.89) peritonitis episodes. GAS was also associated with higher overall mortality [AHR 1.13 (95% CI 1.05-1.22)]. Conclusion: The association between GAS use and peritonitis risk was weaker (HR 1.05 [0.98-1.13]) than for streptococcal (HR 1.57 [1.15-1.89]) and gram-negative (HR 1.29 [1.05-1.57]) peritonitis. A better understanding of mechanisms surrounding the differential effects of GAS subtype on peritonitis risks is needed. Clinicians should be cautious when prescribing GAS. The impact of GAS deprescribing on peritonitis risk requires further evaluation.