Prevalence of symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in Japanese patients with peptic ulcer disease after eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Background: The association between cure of Helicobacter pylori infection and the development of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is controversial. Aim: To examine the prevalence of symptomatic GERD (sGERD) in Japanese patients with peptic ulcer disease after successful eradication and identify associated factors affecting sGERD development. Methods: We retrospectively examined 72 patients (40 gastric ulcer and 32 duodenal ulcer) with successful eradication. Associated factors such as age, gender, drinking and smoking habits, body mass index, presence of gastric atrophy and hiatal hernia were analysed. Results: Seven (9.7%) of 72 peptic ulcer patients newly developed sGERD. There were no differences in mean age, gender, smoking habit, drinking habit, body mass index, or presence of gastric atrophy and hiatal hernia between the sGERD and non-sGERD groups, while the proportion of subjects aged over 70 was significantly higher in the sGERD than the non-sGERD group. Six of 40 patients with gastric ulcer newly developed sGERD while only one of 32 patients with duodenal ulcer developed it. Conclusion: Approximately 10% of Japanese patients with peptic ulcer disease newly developed sGERD after cure of H. pylori infection. Age > 70 years was associated with development of sGERD. Eradication in patients in this age group should be carefully determined.