Heartburn drugs could increase heart attack risk, warn scientists

Proton pump inhibitors are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs, but patients are 16%-21% more likely to suffer a heart attack, study suggests

Common heartburn drugs could increase the risk of heart attacks, scientists have warned. A major US study drawing on the health records of nearly three million patients showed that people taking indigestion drugs called proton pump inhibitors were 16 to 21% more likely to suffer a heart attack.

Nick Leeper, a cardiologist at Stanford University in California, who led the investigation, said: "At first glance you may think a 16% increase in risk is modest and say what's the big deal? But heart disease is by far the leading cause of death in the western world and PPIs are so commonly prescribed. This is potentially a big deal from a public health perspective."