At prescription strength, proton-pump inhibitors are associated with a potential 25 per cent increased risk of early death from any cause, suggests new research published Monday in the British Medical Journal Open.

This study did not examine over-the-counter proton-pump inhibitors or particular brands of prescription-strength drugs.The drugs, known as PPIs, suppress excess acid in the stomach. Generally, prescription formulas are taken by patients with severe conditions for long periods, while lower-dose over-the-counter formulas are approved for only short-term use. The researchers note that their study does not prove cause and effect.

Previous research has linked proton-pump inhibitors to an increased risk of poor health, according to senior author Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly of the Washington University School of Medicine. “A number of studies reported that use (of these drugs) is associated with a number of adverse events including kidney disease, fractures, pneumonia, dementia, C. diff infections and cardiovascular disease,” he said.