A LOCAL STUDY ON THE PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH DYSPEPSIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL DESCRIPTIVE DESIGN

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Affecting approximately half of people worldwide, the gastrointestinal pathogen Helicobacter pylori is recognized as the strongest known cause for gastric cancer.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. Pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia presented in local tertiary care Hospital.

Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in OPD of Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi from August 2023 to February 2024. Subjects meeting the specified selection criteria were included in the study. The stool samples of the study participants were tested. All the data were meticulously compiled and subjected to analysis utilizing SPSS version 25.0. The data underwent stratification based on age, gender, and Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) usage to ascertain any potential modifying effects. Following the stratification process, the Chi-square test was employed to assess the data. A significance level of p≤0.05 was deemed as statistically significant.

Results: Total 84 patients out of 192 screenings, with dyspepsia were included. Among 84 patients, 37(44.0%) were males and 47(56.0%) were females. The mean age of patients was 34.5±12.88 years. H. pyloriwas positive in 48(57.1%) among dyspeptic patients. When considering the distribution based on PPI use, 35 individuals (41.7%) reported prior use of PPI, while the remaining 49 individuals (58.3%) had not utilized.

Conclusion: In this patient cohort, 7.1% (n=48) were found to have H. pylori infection, representing a considerably high rate of occurrence. It is recommended that symptomatic individuals be thoroughly evaluated for H. pylori.