[Benefits of treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with ulcer at a primary care center].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical evolution and the use of Primary Care health resources one year after treatment to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in patients with peptic ulcers and Hp infection.


METHODS
Retrospective study on the effect of an intervention.


METHODS
Urban, reformed primary care centre.


METHODS
102 patients with peptic ulcers and Hp infection.


METHODS
Treatment to eradicate Hp.


RESULTS
a) Total medical attendance; b) attendance for dyspepsia; c) number of ulcerous outbreaks; d) medicines taken to treat dyspepsia. 79.4% of the patients treated were male. Overall mean age was 47.8 +/- 12.4. After the intervention, total attendance (from 8.3 to 6.6, p < 0.001), attendance for dyspepsia (from 3.1 to 1.1, p < 0.00001), and ulcerous outbreaks (from 1.2 to 0.06, p < 0.00001) all dropped sharply. The mean number of medicines prescribed for dyspepsia per patient fell from 1.24 to 0.43, p < 0.0001. Ranitidine prescription fell from 72.7 to 13.8 days (p < 0.001); and omeprazol from 35.1 to 12.2 days (p < 0.03). Estimated total saving per patient was 26,792 pesetas at 1998 values.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment in primary care to eradicate Hp(+) in ulcerous patients reduced the needs of attendance and the prescription of drugs for ulcers. Just in the first year this supposed a clinical benefit for these patients and important economic savings for the public health service.
Azagra Ledesma
R
R
Médico de Familia y Farmacólogo Clínico, CAP Badia del Vallès, Barcelona. razagral@cconline.es
Gené Tous
E
E
Bonet Simó
J M
JM
Solé Sancho
F
F
Calvet Calvo
X
X
D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Beneficios del tratamiento erradicador de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en pacientes ulcerosos en un centro de atención primaria.