The effect of a Helicobacter pylori treatment strategy on health care expenditures in patients with peptic ulcer disease and dyspepsia

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether treatment for Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) for patients with dyspepsia or a history of peptic ulcer decreases hospital expenditures. Methods Patients receiving acid suppressive medications were interviewed. Those with a documented ulcer, a self-reported ulcer, or dyspepsia were tested for H. pylori and treated with antibiotics if seropositive. Acid suppressive medications were stopped on completion of H. pylori therapy unless there was a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or Barrett’s esophagus, and were started again at the discretion of primary care providers. Total hospital costs and GI medication costs in the 12 months before H. pylori treatment were compared to costs 12 months after H. pylori treatment. Results A total of 432 consecutive patients were treated for H. pylori. Of the patients, 125 (29%) had dyspepsia, 45 (10%) documented peptic ulcer, and 262 (61%) self-reported peptic ulcer. Total costs (mean $327 ± 349 vs $291 ± 362, p = 0.06) and medication costs (mean $207 ± 237 vs $224 ± 277, p = 0.38) were not significantly different after treatment versus before treatment. A significant decrease in expenditures was limited to patients chronically on acid suppressive medications who had documented peptic ulcers and no history of GERD or Barrett’s esophagus (mean $482 ± 274 vs $282 ± 218, p = 0.03). Conclusions Treatment of H. pylori for patients with chronic dyspepsia or self-reported peptic ulcer does not reduce expenditures over 1 yr of follow up. H. pylori treatment for patients chronically receiving acid suppressive treatment with a prior documented ulcer significantly reduces expenditures if GERD and Barrett’s esophagus are absent.