Helicobacter pylori Infection: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Profiles from a Prospective Study

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common infections worldwide. Understanding the epidemiology of H. pylori infection is an essential step in the development of appropriate public health measures. Various published and updated management guidelines reflect an evolution in the management of H. pylori-related pathologies, particularly with regard to indications, diagnostic tests and treatment. The aim of our work is to define the clinical, histological, therapeutic and evolutionary epidemiological profile of patients with H. pylori infection at the endoscopy center at Cheikh Khalifa Hospital Casablanca.

Methods: This is a prospective, descriptive study, conducted between January 2024 and July 2024, including 86 patients with H. pylori infection, confirmed by an invasive or non-invasive test.

Results : We included 86 patients, of whom 58 were women and 28 men, giving an M/F sex ratio of 1/2. The mean age was 43, with extremes of 15 and 82. Infection was highest in the 20-39 age group (p<0.001). Clinically, 45.3% of patients presented with epigastralgia and 13.9% with gastro-oesophageal reflux. In 69.7% of cases, a gastroesophageal fibroscopy (FOGD) was performed, while 30.3% of patients benefited from a non-invasive test. Epigastralgia was the main reason for endoscopic examination (32.5%). Erythematous gastritis was the most frequent endoscopic finding. Peptic ulcer was found in 8.3%, while gastric cancer was not observed in any patient. HP eradication was observed in 76.1% of patients treated with concomitant quadruple therapy and 79.5% of patients treated with bismuth therapy (p = 0.35). No patient experienced severe side effects leading to discontinuation of treatment. Compliance was excellent in 93% of patients.

Conclusion: H. pylori infection is highly responsive, more so in young women than in men, found most often at the stage of non-atrophic gastritis, with similar efficacy of the two therapeutic protocols and few side effects.