Observational studies

Study finds link between proton pump inhibitors and dementia

Older people treated with proton pump inhibitors, which are typically used for gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers, may be at increased risk of developing dementia, according to the results of a German study published in the Journal of American Medical Association Neurology.…

Link between prenatal paracetamol exposure and asthma strengthened

Study of more than 50,000 children shows prenatal exposure to paracetamol associated with 13% increased risk of asthma.…

Teenagers who try e-cigarettes more likely to smoke tobacco

Teenagers who try electronic cigarettes are more likely to try tobacco cigarettes a year later, suggests a study published in Tobacco Control.…

Antibiotic carries short-term increased risk of heart attack, finds ‘persuasive’ study

Clarithromycin carries an increased short-term risk of cardiac death and should be prescribed “with caution” to patients who already have a high cardiovascular risk, according to new research.…

PPI use increases risk of chronic kidney disease by as much as 50%

Proton pump inhibitors — used to inhibit gastric acid secretion — are associated with a 20–50% increase in the risk of developing chronic kidney disease, according to new research.…

Birth defect risk unaffected by exposure to oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptive exposure just before or during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects, according to results of a Danish study.…

Negative media coverage about statins may lead patients to stop therapy early

Negative press coverage about statins has been linked to patients deciding to stop taking their statin therapy too early, researchers warn.…

Enhancing clinical practice through pharmaceutical science

‘Integrated pharmacy case studies’, by Sally-Anne Francis, Felicity Smith, John Malkinson, Andrew Constanti and Kevin Taylor.…

Off-label prescribing linked with higher rates of adverse drug events

Doctors should be cautious about prescribing off-label drugs unless they have strong evidence to support their decision, study concludes.…

Exposure to summer sun as a teenager could delay MS-onset

In a Danish study of people with multiple sclerosis, researchers found that the disease started later in people who had spent time in the sun every day as a teenager.…