HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN NONULCER DYSPEPTIC AND ULCER PATIENTS - DETERMINANTS AND CONSEQUENCES IN REAL-LIFE

Background: Infection rates are high in patients with ulcer disease, b ur even non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) patients have Helicobacter pylori in fection. The Notodden Helicobacter study is an 'outcome study' of clin ical practice in a local hospital. The study may identify factors asso ciated with infection and evaluate whether H. pylori infection predict s symptoms in both ulcer disease and NUD. Methods: Base-line results o n infection, symptoms, endoscopy, and treatment were registered in 587 ulcer and NUD patients. H. pylori status was assessed with a rapid ur ease test. Questionnaire data (5-43 months after treatment) give infor mation about symptoms. Regression models to identify H. pylori status were developed. Results: Ulcer patients (H. pylori +/-) were similar t o infected NUD patients. In contrast, uninfected NUD patients were you nger, had less severe symptoms, and used less medication than other pa tients. In NUD, infection rate increased with epigastric pain, male se x, and age. Conclusion: From a local hospital's point of view, H. pylo ri-infected NUD patients are like ulcer patients with regard to sympto ms and demographics. The results suggest that H. pylori infection may give dyspeptic symptoms through other mechanisms than ulcer. We propos e a division of the NUD group into HINUD (Helicobacter-infected NUD) a nd NINUD (non-infected NUD).