BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in prevalence and the related factors of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Korean health check-up subjects during the period of 8 years. METHODS: Among 89,231 subjects who visited the Health Promotion Centers of Severance hospital or Chung-Ang University hospital from Jan. 1998 through Dec. 2005, a total of 10,553 subjects who received esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and H. pylori test were enrolled. H. pylori infection was assessed by histologic examination. Changes of the prevalence of H. pylori infection during 8 years, and infection-related factors such as demographic characteristics, body mass index, ABO blood types, endoscopic findings (presence of peptic ulcer diseases), educational level, economic status, smoking habits, and alcohol intake in year 2005 were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of 10,553 subjects (7,329 men, 3,224 women) was 49.7+/-10.4 years (range from 17 to 92 years). The prevalence of H. pylori infection at the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth year were 64.7%, 58.1%, 54.2%, 50.4%, 48.9%, 49.5%, 39.6%, and 40.0%, respectively, and these serial decreases in prevalence over 8 years were statistically significant (p<0.001). Regardless of sex, age or EGD findings, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly decreased. In the analysis of the H. pylori infection-related factors in 2005, only age and EGD findings (peptic ulcer diseases) were significant factors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly decreased during 8-year period in Korean health check-up subjects. Age and peptic ulcer diseases were the two significant factors related to H. pylori infection in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Demography ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; *Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptic Ulcer/etiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Increased incidence of coronary artery disease has led to the increased use of dual antiplatelet therapy composed of aspirin and clopidogrel. We investigated the incidence of gastrointestinal complications in patients who received single or dual antiplatelet therapy and analyzed their clinical characteristics in order to predict the prognostic factors. METHODS: Between January 2009 and December 2011, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent coronary angiography at Chung-Ang University Hospital (Seoul, Korea). One hundred and ninety-four patients were classified into two groups: aspirin alone group and dual antiplatelet group. Clinical characteristics, past medical history, and presence of peptic ulcer were analyzed. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 11 patients had duodenal ulcer; the event rate was 2.02% in the aspirin alone group and 9.47% in the dual antiplatelet group (hazard ratio [HR] 5.24, 95% CI 1.03-26.55, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding: 0% vs. 4.2% (p=0.78). In patients who received proton pump inhibitor (PPI), 24 patients had gastric ulcer; the event rate was significantly different between the two groups: 4.87% vs. 22.98% (HR 3.40, 95% CI 1.02-11.27, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dual antiplatelet groups had a higher incidence of duodenal ulcers without significant bleeding compared with the aspirin alone group. In patients who received PPI, the dual antiplatelet therapy group had a higher incidence of gastric ulcers without significant bleeding compared with the aspirin alone group. Therefore, physicians must pay attention to high risk groups who receive dual antiplatelet therapy and aggressive diagnostic endoscopy should also be considered.
Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/*therapeutic use/toxicity ; Aspirin/*therapeutic use/toxicity ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/*prevention & control ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/chemically induced/prevention & control ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptic Ulcer/*diagnosis/epidemiology/etiology ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*therapeutic use/toxicity ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ticlopidine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use/toxicity