Kyung Hee University Analyzes Effects of Gastric Acid Suppressants During Pregnancy

Identifying the Association with Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Children

The research team led by Professor Donggun Yeon at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine announced on January 14 that the use of gastric acid suppressants during pregnancy was not found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders in children. The team analyzed the correlation between drug exposure during pregnancy and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in children using large-scale medical big data.

Professor Donggun Yeon, student Seohyun Hong, student Suji Lee, and research fellow Hayeon Lee of Kyung Hee University College of Medicine (from left). Kyung Hee University

During pregnancy, many expectant mothers hesitate to seek treatment even when experiencing symptoms, due to concerns about the potential effects of medication or therapy on the fetus. Heartburn is also a common symptom during pregnancy, but there are cases where appropriate treatment is not provided due to worries about medication use.

The research team investigated the association between exposure to gastric acid suppressants during pregnancy and the occurrence of neuropsychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder in children, by analyzing data from approximately 2.77 million children and their mothers who gave birth between 2010 and 2017, with follow-up periods of up to 10 years.

Initial population-based analyses showed a slightly increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders in the drug-exposed group. Considering that these results could be influenced by genetic or environmental factors, the research team conducted additional analyses. They applied sibling-matched analyses, comparing siblings born to the same mother, and used an emulated target trial approach to adjust for confounding factors.

As a result, after adjusting for confounders, the analysis found no statistically significant association between exposure to gastric acid suppressants during pregnancy and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in children.

Meanwhile, the results of this study were published in the January issue of the American medical journal 'The Journal of the American Medical Association.'