title: [Changes in the prevalence of H. pylori in Perú; during the 1985-2002 period in medium and upper socio-economic strata].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramírez Ramos
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chinga Alayo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mendoza Requena
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leey Casella
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Segovia Castro
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Otoya
mesh_terms: 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