Efficacy of Potassium-Competitive Acid Blockers in Functional Dyspepsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder characterized by upper abdominal discomfort, often refractory to standard acid suppression therapy. Potassium-competitive acid blockers (PCABs), such as vonoprazan and tegoprazan, provide rapid and sustained gastric acid inhibition and may represent a therapeutic alternative. However, their efficacy in FD remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of PCAB therapy on symptom outcomes in adults with FD.
METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL was conducted from inception to June 13, 2025, to identify studies evaluating PCABs in adult FD patients. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and prospective or retrospective cohorts reporting validated symptom scores before and after PCAB therapy. Studies were included in meta-analysis if they reported 4-week outcomes with sufficient data for effect size calculation. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were pooled using a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic, and robustness was evaluated with leave-one-out sensitivity analysis and Baujat plots.
RESULTS: Five studies comprising 366 patients were included. Four treatment arms from three studies (n = 276) were eligible for meta-analysis. The pooled SMD for symptom improvement at 4 weeks was 1.09 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67 - 1.52), indicating a moderate-to-large…
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. Reported size: 366 participants or records.
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