A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials: the effect of potassium-competitive acid blockers on nighttime symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Potassium-competitive acid blockers (PCABs), a new class of potent and sustained acid-suppressing drugs, have emerged as an alternative to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) management. However, the specific benefits of PCABs for nocturnal GERD symptoms remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PCAB therapy compared with PPIs or placebo for managing nighttime heartburn and related symptoms in adults with GERD. We systematically searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from inception to August 8, 2024. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared any PCAB (vonoprazan, tegoprazan, or fexuprazan) with either a PPI or placebo in adult GERD patients. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with complete resolution of nighttime heartburn throughout the treatment period; the secondary outcome was the treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models with risk ratios (RRs). Sensitivity analyses were used to assess the robustness of the results. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Three RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. PCABs significantly increased the likelihood of complete nighttime heartburn resolution compared with PPIs (RR2.29, 95% CI 1.36-3.87; p = 0.002), with no heterogeneity. Safety analysis of the three trials showed no significant difference in TEAE risk (RR0.88, 95% CI 0.53-1.45; p = 0.62). The findings were consistent across all sensitivity analyses. Our study results suggest that PCABs therapy may provide better nighttime heartburn resolution than PPIs.