THE IMPACT OF PEPTIC-ULCER DISEASE AND INFECTION WITH HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ON LIFE EXPECTANCY

Objective: Knowledge about the influence of H, pylori-related disease on life expectancy might affect physician behavior in dealing with suc h disease. The aim of this study was to assess how life expectancy is influenced by H, pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease. Methods: T he declining exponential approximation of life expectancy was used to model the effects of H. pylori and various peptic ulcer disease condit ions on life expectancy. Deaths from peptic ulcer and gastric cancer w ere determined from the Vital Statistics of the United States. H, pylo ri prevalence rates were derived from the existing literature. Results : Cure of active peptic ulcer increases life expectancy by 2.3 yr in p ersons aged 40-44 yr and 121 days in persons aged 70-74 yr, More subst antial impact occurs in complicated ulcer, with increases in life expe ctancy ranging between 26.1 and 6.3 yr, Primary prevention of H, pylor i could increase life expectancy by 190 days in those aged 40-44 yr an d 26 days in 70-74-yr-old subjects. Conclusion: The benefit of ulcer c ure or H, pylori prevention diminishes as age advances. Cure of ulcers in young patients or in those who have sustained complications result s in an appreciable increase in life expectancy. Successful primary pr evention of H, pylori in selected populations could substantially incr ease life expectancy. (Am J Gastroenterol 1998;93:1286-1290. (C) 1998 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology).