NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ERADICATION THERAPY IN DENMARK - RESULTS FROM REGISTRATION OF 34,582 PRESCRIPTIONS

Background: We wanted to characterize the use of Helicobacter pylori e radication therapy in Denmark (5,227,862 inhabitants). Methods: All H. pylori eradication treatments from a nationwide database including al l redeemed drug prescriptions in the period January 1994 to June 1996 were identified. So were all outpatients receiving a drug prescription for H. pylori eradication. Results: We recorded 34,582 prescriptions for H. pylori eradication therapy given to 28,784 patients. The incide nce of new consumers was 220 per 10(5) inhabitants per year, with a ma ximum at 70-79 years of age. Eighty-six per cent of the patients had o nly one treatment course. In 16% of the eradication therapies, nonster oid anti-inflammatory drugs had been prescribed within the previous 3 months, and 45% had an anti-ulcer drug prescribed 1-12 months after th e H. pylori eradication therapy. Consumption of antibiotics used for H . pylori eradication accounted for 1.4% of the total consumption of an tibiotics. Conclusions: The incidence of H. pylori eradication therapy was fairly stable but with changes in the pattern of drug regimens us ed. Anti-ulcer drugs were often given after H. pylori eradication ther apy, suggesting an inappropriate use of treatment.