Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients at a tertiary hospital in a low resource setting.

BACKGROUND

More than half of the world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the primary cause of chronic gastritis. Chronic gastritis is associated with peptic ulcer and in advanced stages with an increased risk of developing gastric adenocarcinoma. In many developing countries access to upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy services is limited. As a result, many UGI diseases are treated empirically.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of H. pylori in patients presenting with dyspepsia, and the mean time from onset of symptoms to performing an endoscopy examination.

METHODS

A cross sectional descriptive study conducted from 5th January to 30th April 2014. Adult patients with dyspepsia who were referred for UGI endoscopy were recruited consecutively. Questionnaires were used to collect data which were analyzed using STATA software. IRB approval was obtained.

RESULTS

In total, 111 participants' data were analyzed. The F:M ratio was 1:1.4, mean age 43 years (SD = 16). The prevalence of H. pylori gastritis was 36%. The minimum time to endoscopy was 3 weeks, maximum 1,248 weeks and the mean time 57 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The burden of H. pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia was high. Patients had prior empirical antibiotic therapy. Access to endoscopic services is limited.