Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication on the Development of Refl ux Esophagitis and Gastroesophageal Refl ux Symptoms: A Nationwide Multi-Center Prospective Study

• Published in: Gut and liver Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 437 - 446
• Main Authors: Na Young Kim, Sang Woo Lee, Jin Il Kim, Gwang Ho Baik, Sung Jung Kim, Geom Seog Seo, Hyo Jeong Oh, Sang Wook Kim, Heyjin Jeong, Su Jin Hong, Ki Nam Shim, Jeong Eun Shin, Seun Ja Park, Eui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한소화기학회 30-12-2011
• Subjects: Eradication; Helicobacter pylori; Refl ux esophagitis; Symptoms
• ISSN: 1976-2283

Background/Aims: A two-year, prospective, nationwide multicenter study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the development of refl ux esophagitis (RE) and gastroesophageal refl ux disease (GERD) symptoms in the Korean population. Methods: In total, 1,489 subjects without RE were enrolled at the outpatient clinics of 12 tertiary hospitals nationwide, and 452 subjects underwent follow-up (F/U) for 2 years to evaluate the development of RE and GERD symptoms. Results: RE was found in 33 subjects (7.3% of 452 subjects) and 14 subjects (7.3% of 192 subjects) during the first and second year of F/U, respectively. H. pylori status was not associated with the development of RE. RE was found in six (9.0%) of 67 H. pylorinegative patients, in 26 (11.2%) of 233 eradicated subjects and in eight (7.0%) of 114 noneradicated subjects (p=0.532). Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥60 years (odds ratio [OR], 7.11; 95% confi dence interval [CI], 1.92 to 26.41), alcohol consumption (OR, 4.43; 95% CI, 1.03 to 19.19) and F/ U cholesterol levels ≥200 mg/dL (OR, 5.03; 95% CI, 1.32 to 19.17) were significant risk factors for the development of RE. There was no signifi cant difference in the development of GERD symptoms or weight according to H. pylori status during the 2-year F/U. Conclusions: Eradication of H. pylori did not affect the development of refl ux esophagitis or GERD symptoms among patients in outpatient gastroenterology clinics in South Korea. (Gut Liver 2011;5:437-446)