Tag Archive for: acid reflux

PPIs and Heart Attacks: The Bottom Line

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Here’s why the Stanford Study on PPIs and heart attacks is not as concerning as the press release and the study itself suggested (1-2): it comes down to the data mining.

The data-mining algorithm obtained a lot of data in addition to PPIs, diagnosed acid reflux, and heart disease. It collected data on blood lipids, systolic blood pressure, and smoking status. What it did not do was collect the heights and weights to determine BMI from the medical records. The researchers acknowledged that they had no data on diabetes as well. Of all the information that could . . .

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PPIs and Heart Attacks: A Closer Look

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Today we’ll take a closer look at the Stanford Study I talked about on Tuesday (1). Before I do, I have to say that I’m in awe of the sheer data that was examined in this study. The lead author, Nigam Shah PhD, is a pioneer in this type of data-mining technique. The research wouldn’t have been possible if Stanford did not begin using electronic medical records in 1994. The program did not only read the diagnoses and other variables but also physician notes. Think how complicated a program would be required to do that!

And . . .

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Acid Reflux or Heart Attacks?

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One of the most frequently asked questions I get is what to do about acid reflux. By the time most people ask, it’s a serious issue and they should see their physician. In most cases, they will be prescribed a proton-pump inhibitor or PPI. One of the people who uses a PPI is Paula. When she saw the headline “Heartburn Drugs May Boost the Risk of Heart Attacks,” she asked me to check it out because she didn’t want to have to choose between those two problems. Because I’m a great husband and I’d like . . .

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