Outcomes of initial noninvasive Helicobacter pylori testing in US primary care patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia

OBJECTIVE: Recent European trials demonstrate that testing and treatment fo r Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an effective alternative to prompt end oscopy in uninvestigated dyspepsia. The eventual endoscopy rate after H. py lori testing, which is a key determinant of cost-effectiveness, is unknown in the United States. Our aim was to determine the endoscopy rate after H. pylori testing in primary care practice in the United States and to compare outcomes among seropositive and seronegative patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review with mean 13 month follow-up o f primary care patients with dyspeptic symptoms tested with office-based H. pylori serology. RESULTS: Of 268 adults tested (37 +/- 11 yr, 58% women), 57 (21%) were sero positive and 49/57 (86%) received eradication therapy. Endoscopy or contras t radiography was performed on 19% of seropositive and 19% of seronegative patients (p = 0.97). Annualized median disease-related expenditures were si milar among seropositive and seronegative patients ($228 [$93-$654] vs $366 [$107-$1268], p = 0.19). However, aggregate expenditures were substantiall y lower than the cost of endoscopy alone ($816 [$296-$970]). On follow-up, seropositive and seronegative patients had similar numbers of primary care visits (2.9 +/- 3.2 vs 3.5 +/- 3.6, p = 0.23), prolonged antisecretory medi cation use (25 vs 33%, p = 0.27), and specialist referrals (23 vs 24%, p = 0.83). CONCLUSION: In a United States center, 81% of primary care patients tested for H. pylori did not undergo endoscopy, and patients incurred significantl y lower median expenditures after noninvasive H. pylori testing than the co st of endoscopy alone. Seropositive and seronegative patients experienced c omparable outcomes after H. pylori testing.