Significant decrease of the Helicobacter pylori infection in Budapest

Introduction: Between 1989 and 1995 (A) on the basis of 2151 patients (PTS) we could report on the frequency of infection (INF) with Helicobacter pylori (HP) in North-Pest (GUT Suppl. No. 2. Vol. 39, 1996. A84). Ten years later in the similar period of time between 1999 and 2004 (B) we elaborated the data of 3415 PTS who underwent an endoscopically experiment at our first clinical test because of their stomach aches and there had been the first such examinations (EX) in them.

Methods: The detection of HP was histological EX (by staining s. Warthin-Starry or Giemsa) and/or Urease Breath Test or cultivation. The factors to be determined were age, sex, gastroscopical diagnosis and permanent address concerning the proportion of infection with HP or the comparing date from our last epidemiological analysis. The distribution of INF by HP in the PTS (comparison with our previous EX) is presented in the following table:

age (yrs)	0–20	21–30	31–40	41–50	51–60	61–70	71–80	81–99	total
A HP+ %	25.7	48.40	57.10	62.20	59.80	57.40	50.80	47.90	56.30
B HP+ %	12.5	29.40	35.70	44.60	49.50	44.40	45.60	37.70	42.90
Diff. (%)	13.2	19.00	21.40	17.60	10.30	13.00	5.200	10.20	13.40

Results: In the period between 1999 and 2004 in all age groups the HP infection proportion has significantly been reduced. In the distribution of years of birth besides those having been born in the period of 1965 and 1974 the reduction was generally significant as far as HP-positive cases. While the grade of infection in the age of 31 to 80 years reflected to the period of 1989–1995 was lying above 50%, or even reached the 62%, in the last period the HP positives could be diminished in all age group considerably. The proportion of infection at the peptic ulcer diseases was going down and a great measure the same proportion hardly ever moved at GERD group. Within Budapest the infection grade lies in Buda, North Pest and City around 30%, East& South Pest has 40% or above and surrounding villages Exceeds 50%.

Conclusion: The diminishing of HP infection is to be explained by the better living standards whole comfort, usage of freezing device generalized conservation of food and because of big number of eradicational treatment of the last 20 years.