Evidence Hub

Association of Proton Pump Inhibitor Use With Gastric Cancer in Regions With High Prevalence of Gastric Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Kang SJ, Lee KJ

Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility, 2025

3 citations

Abstract

Background/aims: Although the association between the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and the risk of gastric cancer has been postulated in casecontrol and cohort studies, it remains still controversial. We aim to evaluate association of PPI use with gastric cancer in regions with high prevalence of gastric cancer, particularly in patients who underwent eradication of Helicobacter pylori, by systemic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Comprehensive literature search through the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane database was performed in October 2023. We used random effects model to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between PPI use and gastric cancer. The Cochran Q-statistic and the I2 test were employed for evaluating potential heterogeneity between studies.

Results: Two case-control and 6 cohort studies were identified. PPI use was significantly associated with the development of gastric cancer (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.35-3.01). In subgroup analysis carried out according to the study design, sample size, and adjustment of confounding factors (age, sex, and H. pylori), such association was significant. A meta-analysis of 4 studies performed in patients with H. pylori eradication history showed that the use of PPIs was significantly associated with an elevated incidence of gastric cancer (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.48-2.97).

Conclusions: Long-term use of PPIs is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer in Asian regions with high prevalence…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free