Background

Acid-suppressive medications (ASM) are increasingly used, especially in patients with underlying diseases. Long-term use of ASM causes various side effects. However, studies on the side effects of ASM have report different results depending on the study design. Recently, researches using a Distributed Research Network (DRN) using a Common Data Model (CDM) have become possible. Using a DRN using a CDM, we confirmed the hazard ratio of pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after using ASM.

Methods

Exposure of ASM was defined as patients who were prescribed H2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for more than 28 consecutive days. Data from 9 hospitals that have established a research free zone using OMOP-CDM (Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model) of OHDSI (Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics), a CDM using a DRN, were used.

Results

From January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2020, there were 7,402 people in the ASM group and 20,552 in the non-ASM group at 9 hospitals. Using the propensity score matching method, 5,681 patients were assigned to each, and a total of 11,362 patients were analyzed. As a result of meta-analysis of 9 hospitals, the long-term use of ASM showed a hazard ratio of 1.35 (95% Cl: 1.15-1.58) of pneumonia.

Conclusions

DRN multi-institutional research using a CDM was able to conduct research quickly and easily without risk of personal information leakage. COPD patients who were prescribed ASM for a long time had a higher risk of pneumonia compared with those who did not.