title: Helicobacter pylori infection in older people.
abstract: Since the discovery of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection as the major cause of gastroduodenal disorders three decades ago, H. pylori has been the focus of active research and debate in the scientific community. Its linkage to several diseases, such as peptic ulcer disease, gastritis and gastric malignancy is incontestable. In particular, it has been noticed that, as the aged population is increasing worldwide, older people are at increased risk of developing several gastroduodenal diseases and related complications. At the same time, gastric cancer is definitely more frequent in elderly than in adult and young people. In addition, it has been showed that peptic ulcer and related complications occur much more commonly in aged individuals than in young people, resulting in a significantly higher mortality. Although this infection plays a crucial role in gastrointestinal disorders affecting all age groups and in particular older people, only a few studies have been published regarding the latter. This article presents an overview of the epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestations and therapy of H. pylori infection in elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Alberto Pilotto, Geriatrics Unit, Azienda ULSS 16 Padova, St. Antonio Hospital, 71-35127 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilotto
authors.affiliation: Alberto Pilotto, Geriatrics Unit, Azienda ULSS 16 Padova, St. Antonio Hospital, 71-35127 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D005243:Feces; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014510:Urease
keywords: Clinical features; Diagnosis; Elderly; Helicobacter pylori; Treatment