Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its eradication on the upper gastrointestinal symptoms of relatively healthy Japanese subjects.MethodsA total of 3,005 subjects (male/female: 1,549/1,456) undergoing medical health checkups were enrolled in the present study, at five hospitals in Saga, Japan, from January to December 2013. They had no significant findings following upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. All subjects completed a questionnaire that addressed a frequency scale for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The questionnaire comprised seven questions regarding reflux symptoms and seven regarding acid-related dyspepsia, which were answered with a score based on the frequency of symptoms. Helicobacter pylori infection was identified by a rapid urease test and/or H. pylori antibody titer, and an eradication history was confirmed by the subjects’ medical records.ResultsHelicobacter pylori infection was positive in 894 subjects out of 3,005 (29.8%). Eradication of Helicobacter pylori was successfully achieved in 440 subjects of 458 treated. Helicobacter pylori infection had no influence on the acid-related dyspepsia evaluated by the questionnaire, whereas the mean reflux score was relatively high in the Helicobacter pylori native negative subjects compared to Helicobacter pylori native positive. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and time span after the eradication had no effect on the upper gastrointestinal symptoms evaluated by the questionnaire.ConclusionHelicobacter pylori infection and history of eradication did not affect acid-related dyspepsia symptoms in Japanese healthy subjects.
Highlights
An annual survey on public health conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan in 2013 indicated that 27.68% of males and 31.24% of females had some clinical symptoms regarding the gastrointestinal tract [1]
Helicobacter pylori infection had no influence on the acid-related dyspepsia evaluated by the questionnaire, whereas the mean reflux score was relatively high in the Helicobacter pylori native negative subjects compared to Helicobacter pylori native positive
Previous studies indicated that reflux esophagitis was developed following eradication therapy [4, 15], recent studies in Japan have indicated that the frequency or severity of this esophagitis, evaluated by endoscopy, was not serious [16,17,18,19,20]
Summary
An annual survey on public health conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan in 2013 indicated that 27.68% of males and 31.24% of females had some clinical symptoms regarding the gastrointestinal tract [1]. Improvement of upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms after H. pylori eradication is still unclear in Japan [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12], several prospective randomized studies in Asia and South America showed the efficacy of Esophagus (2017) 14:249–253 eradication therapy [13, 14] These reports indicate that a relationship between dyspepsia symptoms and H. pylori infection is still controversial. Methods A total of 3,005 subjects (male/female: 1,549/1,456) undergoing medical health checkups were enrolled in the present study, at five hospitals in Saga, Japan, from January to December 2013 They had no significant findings following upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Helicobacter pylori infection was identified by a rapid urease test and/or H. pylori antibody titer, and an eradication history was confirmed by the subjects’ medical records
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
