title: Prolonged treatment duration is required for successful Helicobacter pylori eradication with proton pump inhibitor triple therapy in Canada.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional seven-day proton pump inhibitor triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication has recently shown disappointing results outside of Canada. Prolonging therapy may be associated with poorer compliance and, hence, may not have a better outcome in a real-world setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the outcomes of seven- and 14-day triple therapy for first-line treatment of H pylori infection in an effectiveness setting in Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 314 consecutive treatment-naive, adult H pylori-infected patients were allocated to either a seven- or 14-day triple therapy regimen, with a subgroup of 172 consecutive patients quasi-randomized to treatment according to date of visit. Eradication was confirmed using either urea breath test or gastric biopsies. Analysis was by intention to treat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eradication was achieved in a higher proportion of patients who underwent 14-day versus seven-day treatment regimens (overall: 85% versus 70% [P≤0.001]; subgroup: 83% versus 64% [P≤0.01]). Although successful eradication was also associated with older age and a diagnosis of ulcer disease, multivariate analysis revealed only longer treatment duration and lack of yogurt ingestion as independent predictors of successful eradication. There was a trend toward reduced success in the latter years of the study. Side effects were similar in both groups and were not prevented by yogurt ingestion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The currently recommended duration of proton pump inhibitor triple therapy in Canada should be increased from seven to 14 days, the latter having achieved an excellent result in this particular real-world setting. Yogurt added no benefit. Further study is required to compare 10-day with 14-day treatment regimens.
authors.affiliation: Division of McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. carlo.fallone@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Carlo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fallone
authors.forename: Alan N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Barkun
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szilagyi
authors.forename: Karl M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Herba
authors.forename: Maida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sewitch
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.forename: Stefanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fallone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015014:Yogurt
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors