Helicobacter pylori infection, intake of analgesics or anti-inflammatory medication, and personal factors in relation to dyspeptic symptoms in patients of a general practitioner

Background Several studies have assessed the relationship between Helicobac ter pylori infection and dyspeptic symptoms in highly selected patient popu lations and they have yielded inconsistent results. Aim. To investigate the relationship between current H. pylori infection, i ntake of analgesics or anti-inflammatory medication, and personal factors w ith dyspeptic symptoms in a large, unselected patient population of a gener al practitioner (GP). Method. Consecutive patients of a GP were invited to participate in a cross -sectional study regardless of the reason for their visit. Active infection with H. pylori was measured using the C-13-urea breath test (C-13-UBT). A standardised questionnaire covering demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyl e factors, and dyspeptic symptoms was completed by the patients. The number and severity of dyspeptic symptoms were quantified using a symptom score. Results. Five hundred and one out of 531 eligible patients returned their q uestionnaires; a response rate of 94.4%. The prevalence of H, pylori infect ion, as indicated by a positive C-13-UBT, was 21.1% and was unrelated to dy speptic symptoms. After adjustment for potential confounders by multiple lo gistic regression, a symptom score in the upper quartile of the symptom sco re distribution was significantly associated with female sex (odds ratio [O R] = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1 to 3.0) and intake of analgesi cs or anti-inflammatory drugs other than non-steroidal antiinflammatory dru gs (NSAIDs) (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.1 to 4.7). Older age (60 to 79 years) was associated with fewer symptoms (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2 to 0.9) when compar ed with the youngest age group (15 to 39 years). Conclusion. Female sex, younger age, and intake of analgesics or anti-infla mmatory drugs other than NSAIDs, but not H, pylori infection, were independ ently associated with dyspeptic symptoms in this population.