Effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori eradication treatments in a primary care setting in Italy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the choice and relative effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens in a primary care setting.


METHODS
Patients referred to our department, who had been treated for H. pylori infection during the preceding 6 months, were enrolled between September 1998 and July 1999. H. pylori status was assessed by urea breath test. Information on the drugs administered, compliance and side-effects was recorded.


RESULTS
The mean eradication rate was 72% in patients receiving their first course of treatment (1863 cases; 45% male; mean age, 53 +/- 14 years); a double therapy regimen was prescribed to 14% of patients, triple therapy to 85% and quadruple therapy to 1%. Maastricht Consensus proton pump inhibitor-based regimens were prescribed in 80% of cases, with a mean eradication rate of 73%. No statistically significant correlation was found between eradication failure and sex, age, endoscopic findings or administered treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In Italy, in a primary care setting, first-line H. pylori eradication therapies reflect international guidelines. The efficacy of such regimens is lower than that reported by controlled trials. These results are relevant when making pharmacoeconomic evaluations of H. pylori management.
Della Monica
P
P
Department of Gastroenterology, Mauriziano Hospital, Turin, Italy. gastroentero@mauriziano.it
Lavagna
A
A
Masoero
G
G
Lombardo
L
L
Crocellá
L
L
Pera
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors