Comparison of intestinal metaplasia and Helicobacter pylori positivity in patients from different age groups with antral gastritis

Abstract

Background/Aim: Gastric carcinoma (GC) is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and the second most common cause of cancer death. Primary prevention for GC includes healthy diet, eradication of Helicobacter pylori (HP), chemoprevention and early diagnosis. For this reason, finding out the HP incidence in patients with suspected antral gastritis in various age groups can lead to forming a treatment strategy to prevent development of GC. The aim of this study is to find out the HP incidence in patients with a proven antral gastritis diagnosis in various age groups and form different treatment strategies. Methods: This study included 1589 patients aged between 15-91 years who underwent diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy due to complaints of dyspepsia. The demographic characteristics, such as age and sex, and histopathological HP score (HPS) and IM score (IMS) were recorded. The patients were divided into three groups according to age: 15-29 years, 30-64 years, and 65 years and above. Results: In the 15–29-year age group, IM positivity was significantly lower and HP positivity was significantly higher compared to other age groups (P<0.01). In the age group of 65 years and above, HP positivity was significantly lower than in the other groups (P<0.01). The incidence of IM was significantly higher and that of HP was significantly lower in male patients aged 65 years and older (P<0.01 for both). IM positivity was significantly higher in HP negative patients than in HP positive patients (P=0.02). Conclusion: The most important risk factors for the development of IM are male gender and being aged 65 years and older. HP positivity is higher among the young population and IM prevalence is higher in advanced ages. There is no correlation between HP positivity and the presence of IM.