What the study found
The study found no significant association between prenatal exposure to acid-suppressive medications and several neuropsychiatric disorders in children when siblings were compared. Acid-suppressive medications include histamine 2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors, which reduce stomach acid.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the sibling-control findings suggest the small associations seen in other analyses may reflect confounding by shared familial factors. They present this as relevant because these medications are commonly prescribed during pregnancy, while comprehensive studies on their association with neuropsychiatric disorders in children have been limited.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using South Korea's National Health Insurance Service database, including mother-child pairs with births from 2010 through 2017 and follow-up through 2023. They examined prenatal exposure to at least one prescription for a proton pump inhibitor or histamine 2 receptor antagonist and assessed child diagnoses using diagnostic codes.
What worked and what didn't
In the overlap-weighted cohort, exposed children had slightly higher risks than unexposed children for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, severe neuropsychiatric disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, sibling-control analyses found no significant associations for any of these outcomes, with adjusted hazard ratios close to 1.0.
What to keep in mind
The abstract reports that the small associations seen in one type of analysis may be due to shared familial confounding. Limitations beyond this, if any, are not described in the available summary.
Key points
- The study examined prenatal exposure to acid-suppressive medications, including histamine 2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors.
- In overlap-weighted analyses, exposed children showed slightly higher risks for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, severe neuropsychiatric disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Sibling-control analyses found no significant associations between prenatal exposure and any of the neuropsychiatric outcomes studied.
- The authors suggest the small associations in other analyses may reflect shared familial confounding.
- The study used South Korea's National Health Insurance Service database and followed offspring for a mean of 10.3 years.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Prenatal acid-suppressive drugs were not linked to child neuropsychiatric disorders in sibling analyses
- Authors:
- Seohyun Hong, Sooji Lee, Hyunjee Kim, Hyesu Jo, Kyeongmin Lee, Yeona Jo, Tae Hyeon Kim, Jaeyu Park, Jinseok Lee, Ho Geol Woo, Hayeon Lee, Dong Keon Yon
- Institutions:
- Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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