Do proton pump inhibitors prevent Barrett’s esophagus progression to high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma? An updated meta-analysis

Purpose Previous research on the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and the risk of progression to high-grade dysplasia (HGD)/esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) patients has generated inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis was performed to clarify the association. Methods We performed a comprehensive search strategy to select relevant studies up to September 2020. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I -squared statistic. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated through either fixed-effects or random-effects model. Duration-response was also performed to assess the gain effects of different PPI intake duration. Sensitivity analysis, subgroup analyses, and tests for publication bias or other small-study effects were conducted. Results Twelve studies with 155,769 subjects were included. The PPI use was associated with the reduced risk of BE progression to HGD/EAC (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.32–0.71). In the duration–response analysis, the estimated OR for decreased risk of HGD/EAC with PPI intake duration of 12 months was 0.81 (95% CI = 0.71–0.91). Sensitivity analysis suggested the results of this meta-analysis were stable. No publication bias was detected. Conclusions PPI use is associated with a decreased risk of HGD/EAC in patients with BE. For further investigation, that more well-designed studies are still needed to elucidate the protective effect of PPI usage on BE patients to prevent HGD/EAC.