Is the Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Really Decreasing?

Objective: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is one of the most common infections in the world. There are studies showing that the prevalence of Hp has decreased over the years. In this study, while trying to determine the prevalence of patients diagnosed with Hp histopathologically in our region and the change in this prevalence over the years, it was also tried to determine the relationship between endoscopic diagnosis and Hp and the change in this relationship over the years.

Methods: Patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy at the Adnan Menderes University Gastroenterology Endoscopy Unit between 1998 and 2000 and 2018 and 2020 were included in the study. Helicobacter pylori status and endoscopic diagnoses were recorded in the patients. Helicobacter pylori was detected histopathologically.

Results: A total of 6622 patients, 3791 between 1998 and 2000 and 2831 between 2018 and 2020, were included in the study. Heliobacter pylori positivity rate was 49.5% between 1998 and 2000, and 27.3% between 2018 and 2020 (P .0001). While Hp positivity rate was 78.1% in bulber ulcer, 54.4% in gastric ulcer, and 34.3% in gastric cancer between 1998 and 2000, this rate was found to be 32.3% in bulber ulcer, 38.1% in gastric ulcer, and 8.3% in gastric cancer between 2018 and 2020. (P=.0001, P=.004, P=.012).

Conclusion: In this study, we found that the prevalence of Hp decreased from 49.5% to 27.3% in 20 years in our region. This decrease was observed in all endoscopic diagnoses, and the decreases were statistically significant. In the decrease of Hp prevalence, in addition to eradication treatment, we think that factors such as improved sanitation conditions and increased education/socioeconomic level also play a role.

Cite this article as: Mammadov E, Yaşa MH, Taşkıran İ, Kandemir A, Coşkun A. Is the prevalence of helicobacter pylori really decreasing?. Diagn Interv Endosc. 2023;2(3):71-74.