[Changes in the prevalence of H. pylori in Perú; during the 1985-2002 period in medium and upper socio-economic strata].
BACKGROUND
In the developed countries, the prevalence of infection by H. Pylori among patients with active chronic gastritis (ACG) and peptic ulcer is diminishing. In developing countries, as far as it is known, neither a time variation of this infection nor a related epidemiological phenomena have been reported.


OBJECTIVE
Determine the changes in the prevalence of H. pylori in patients from medium and high socio-economic strata in Lima, with ACG and peptic ulcer from 1985 to 2002.


METHODS
An evaluation by means of an esophago-gastroduodenoscopy was carried out in a private hospital in 1,815 patients from the medium and upper socio-economic strata, all of them residents in Lima, Peru and showing upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Coloring with hematoxilin-eosin was used.


RESULTS
1,260 patients with ACG were identified: 178 with duodenal ulcer, 55 with gastric ulcer and 292 with histologically normal gastric mucose (HNGM). Prevalence of H. pylori among patients with ACG dropped from 83.3% to 58.7% (p<0.001) in males and females under 30 years old and from 31 to 50 years old (p=0.001). In patients with duodenal ulcer it decreased from 89.5% to 71.9% (p=0.004) and in those patients with gastric ulcer, from 84.8% to 77.3% (p=0.36). In patients with HNGM, prevalence remained the same (from 2.7% to 0.0%) (p=0.15).


CONCLUSIONS
Between 1985 and 2002, in Lima, Peru, H. pylori prevalence in patients from the medium and upper socio-economic strata, with ACG and peptic ulcer, diminished.
Ramírez Ramos
Alberto
A
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú.
Chinga Alayo
Erick
E
Mendoza Requena
Daniel
D
Leey Casella
Julio
J
Segovia Castro
María Cristina
MC
Otoya
César
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003906:Developing Countries; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology