There may be reason to be on the acid reducers for serious and correctly diagnosed conditions such as peptic ulcer and severe acid reflux. It is widely held in the medical community that these drugs have been over prescribed. These medications include omeprazole, pantoprazole dexilant to name some of the most notable, generally called proton pump inhibitors (PPI). A second class of medications is H2RA that include famotidine, ranitidine etc.

There is a good reason why the stomach produces acid to maintain a low pH. It is known that suppression of stomach acidity with powerful acid suppressants like proton pump inhibitors have been linked to increased odds of acquiring gastrointestinal infections. At least we know from prior studies that SARS-CoV-1 virus infectivity was reduced at gastric pH of less than 3 and up until now that could only be suspected to be true for COVID-19, a similar virus.

The impact of acid suppression on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) behavior was at best unconfirmed and subject to speculation. A new study seems to settle that question suggesting that COVID-19 ability to infect may be aided by stomach acid reduction in those taking PPI in a dose dependent pattern.

In their study, researchers found that those who took PPIs up to once a day were twice as likely to have had a positive COVID-19 test result than those who did not take the drugs. By contrast, those taking H2RA drugs once daily were 15% less likely to report a positive COVID-19 test result . 

There is evidence of an independent, dose-response relationship between the use of anti-secretory medications and COVID-19 positivity; individuals taking PPIs twice daily have higher odds for reporting a positive test when compared to those using PPIs up to once daily, and those taking the less potent H2RAs are not at increased risk.

This study addresses positive COVID-19 test positivity. Positive test is not the same as manifesting COVID-19 illness and symptoms. It is significant to note that 80% of infections are mild and even asymptomatic, but it is equally significant to infer that it is among those who are positive for the viral infection that some will go on to develop the illness.

REFERENCES :

https://journals.lww.com/ajg/Documents/AJG-20-1811_R1(PUBLISH%20AS%20WEBPART).pdf 

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