Table 1.
Baseline characteristics between non-users and proton pump inhibitor users for the 6-mo landmark period
| Baseline characteristics | Non-user (n = 57) | PPI user (n = 238) | P value |
| Gender, n (%) | 0.96 | ||
| Male | 39 (68.4) | 162 (68.1) | |
| Female | 18 (31.6) | 76 (31.9) | |
| Age in yr, Mean (± SD) | 60.0 ± 13.3 | 63.3 ± 12.4 | 0.07 |
| Race, n (%) | 0.95 | ||
| Chinese | 33 (57.9) | 132 (55.5) | |
| Malay | 10 (17.5) | 50 (21.0) | |
| Indian | 8 (14.0) | 33 (13.9) | |
| Others | 6 (10.5) | 23 (9.7) | |
| Aetiology of cirrhosis, n (%) | 0.07 | ||
| Hepatitis B | 11 (19.3 | 42 (17.6) | |
| Alcohol | 16 (28.1) | 42 (17.6) | |
| Hepatitis C | 11 (19.3) | 52 (21.8) | |
| NASH | 9 (15.8) | 74 (31.1) | |
| Autoimmune | 4 (7.0) | 4 (1.7) | |
| Others | 6 (10.5) | 24 (10.1) | |
| Index hepatic event, n (%) | |||
| HCC | 6 (10.5) | 20 (8.4) | 0.61 |
| Ascites | 37 (64.9) | 121 (50.8) | 0.06 |
| SBP | 4 (7.0) | 15 (6.3) | 0.77 |
| HE | 9 (15.8) | 59 (24.8) | 0.15 |
| Variceal bleed | 8 (14.0) | 53 (22.3) | 0.17 |
| History of the following, n (%) | |||
| HCC | 0 (0.0) | 9 (3.8) | 0.21 |
| Ascites | 9 (15.8) | 32 (13.4) | 0.65 |
| HE | 1 (1.8) | 10 (4.2) | 0.70 |
| Variceal bleed | 9 (15.8) | 42 (17.6) | 0.74 |
| SBP | 2 (3.5) | 6 (2.5) | 0.65 |
| Biochemical results at baseline; | |||
| Mean (± SD) or median (IQR) | |||
| Albumin in g/L | 27.0 ± 4.7 | 28.1 ± 6.2 | 0.14 |
| INR | 1.12 (1.01-1.26) | 1.13 (1.03-1.28) | 0.73 |
| Creatinine in μmol/L | 79.0 (65.0-124.5) | 86.0 (66.8-117.0) | 0.58 |
| Bilirubin in μmol/L | 29.4 (17.0-56.8) | 25.9 (16.3-74.0) | 0.16 |
| Platelet count as 109/L | 105.5 (67.3-150.3) | 104.0 (71.0-159.0) | 0.82 |
| Haemoglobin in g/dL | 11.4 ± 2.3 | 10.8 ± 2.6 | 0.15 |
| MELD, median (IQR) | 11.0 (8.0-14.5) | 10.5 (8.0-14.3) | 0.56 |
| Medical comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| GERD | 0 (0.0) | 19 (8.0) | 0.03 |
| Esophagitis | 4 (7.0) | 17 (7.1) | 1.00 |
| Peptic ulcer disease | 1 (1.8) | 32 (13.4) | 0.01 |
| Type 2 diabetes1 | 0.16 | ||
| None | 33 (57.9) | 105 (44.1) | |
| Uncomplicated | 14 (24.6) | 70 (29.4) | |
| End-organ damage | 10 (17.5) | 63 (26.5) | |
| Malignancy1 | 0.84 | ||
| None | 47 (82.5) | 199 (83.6) | |
| Leukaemia/lymphoma/localised solid tumour | 8 (14.0) | 33 (13.9) | |
| Metastatic solid tumour | 2 (3.5) | 6 (2.5) | |
| HIV/AIDS1 | 1 (1.8) | 2 (0.8) | |
| Renal impairment1 | 9 (15.8) | 51 (21.4) | |
| Congestive heart failure1 | 4 (7.0) | 21 (8.8) | |
| Myocardial infarct1 | 2 (3.5) | 33 (13.9) | |
| COPD1 | 2 (3.5) | 9 (3.8) | |
| PVD1 | 0 (0.0) | 4 (1.7) | |
| CVA/TIA1 | 2 (3.5) | 24 (10.1) | |
| Dementia1 | 1 (1.8) | 9 (3.8) | |
| Hemiplegia1 | 0 (0.0) | 3 (1.3) | |
| 2 (3.5) | 4 (1.7) | ||
| Connective tissue disease1 | |||
| Baseline medications: | |||
| Antivirals for viral hepatitis: | |||
| Chronic HBV on long-term antivirals | 2/11 (18.2) | 14/42 (33.3) | 0.48 |
| Chronic HCV treated with DAA2 | 0/11 (0.0) | 3/52 (5.8) | 1.00 |
| Use of other concurrent medications, > 3 mo use | |||
| Insulin | 2 (3.5) | 42 (17.6) | 0.01 |
| Sulphonylureas | 8 (14.0) | 51 (21.4) | 0.21 |
| Insulin sensitisers | 2 (3.5) | 24 (10.1) | 0.11 |
| Metformin | 5 (8.8) | 45 (18.9) | 0.07 |
| DPP4 inhibitors | 4 (7.0) | 2 (0.8) | 0.01 |
| Antiplatelet | 5 (8.8) | 45 (18.9) | 0.067 |
| Aspirin | 5 (8.8) | 38 (16.0) | 0.17 |
| Statins | 2 (3.5) | 29 (12.2) | 0.06 |
| ACE-I/ARB | 4 (7.0) | 43 (18.1) | 0.04 |
| Non-selective beta blockers | 8 (14.0) | 81 (34.0) | 0.003 |
| Selective beta blockers | 2 (3.5) | 22 (9.2) | 0.19 |
As defined by Charlson’s comorbidity index;
3 patients given 12 wk of sofosbuvir/daclatasvir/ribavirin for hepatitis C virus cirrhosis; direct acting antiviral only became fully funded in early 2017. NASH: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; MELD: Model of end-stage liver disease; GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; HIV/AIDS: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome; COPD-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; PVD: Peripheral vascular disease; CVA/TIA: Cerebrovascular accident/transient ischemic attack; DPP4: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4; ACE-I/ARB: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker; DAA: Direct acting antiviral; HE: Hepatic encephalopathy; SBP: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; IQR: Interquartile range; PPI: Proton pump inhibitor.