Comparative Analysis of the Efficacy of Esomeprazole and Ilaprazole in Patients With Neurological Disorders Using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire

OBJECTIVES: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used to reduce gastric acid levels and are often prescribed with antiplatelet agents in patients with stroke. However, the interactions and differences among various PPIs remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to compare the differences between esomeprazole and ilaprazole in patients with and without stroke. We also compared the effects of aspirin use in the ilaprazole group. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 580 patients with neurological disorders who responded to the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire at a tertiary hospital between October 2020 and December 2023. Comparative and subgroup analyses were performed using the chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and t tests. RESULTS: In the overall patient cohort, patients using esomeprazole had lower rates of dyslipidemia and lower white blood cell, hemoglobin, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, compared to ilaprazole users. However, among patients with stroke, esomeprazole users had higher rates of atrial fibrillation and lower triglyceride, hemoglobin, and uric acid levels, compared to ilaprazole users. In the ilaprazole group, nonaspirin users were younger and had fewer stroke episodes and higher total cholesterol levels, compared to aspirin users. Furthermore, patients using antiplatelet and PPI therapies and antacids had lower hemoglobin levels, compared to antacid nonusers. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences existed between esomeprazole and ilaprazole users and among ilaprazole users based on aspirin use. Therefore, careful monitoring of PPI use with antiplatelet agents and antacids is recommended in patients with neurological disorders. However, further research is needed to understand these differences and their clinical impact.