[Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in non-selected patients submitted to esophagogastroduodenoscopy and associated risk factors]. / Prevalencia de esófago de Barrett en pacientes no seleccionados sometidos a esofagogastroduodenoscopia y factores de riesgo asociados.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of the Barrett esophagus (BE) in non-selected patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) and identified risk factors associated. METHODS: Case-control study on patients who underwent UGE between 2001-2003. Demographic data was gathered as well as the presence of esophagitis, H. pylori, hiatal hernia presence and length, nighttime symptoms, smoking, and alcohol consumption. RESULTS: The global frequency of EB was 0.26%. Average age in patients with EB was 57.3 +/- 17 years old against 49 +/- 15 years old on the control group (p = 0.16). 69% of the patients with EB were men compared to 56% on the control group (p = 0.41). No difference regarding the presence of hiatal hernia was found between EB (79.6%) and patients without EB (72.5%) (p = 0.75). However, patients with EB presented a longer hiatal hernia (p < 0.05). There was no difference regarding the presence of esophagitis (p = 0.32), H. pylori (p = 0.61), smoking (p = 0.39), alcohol consumption (p = 0.34), nocturnal symptoms (p = 0.53) or extra-esophageal manifestations (p = 0.31). A significant difference existed regarding the presence of heartburn and the length of symptoms: patients with EB stated a history longer than 5 years in comparison with the control group (p < 0.005 and < 0.01 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of EB was 0.26% in Mexican non-selected population; the extents of hiatal hernia and history heartburn as well as a longer duration of symptoms were significantly associated to EB.

[Evaluation of the symptomatology and quality of life in functional dyspepsia before and after Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment]. / Evaluación de la sintomatología y calidad de vida en la dispepsia funcional antes y después de tratamiento de erradicación de H. pylori.

BACKGROUND: Whether H. pylori infection plays a role in FD is ill defined; however, it is recommended to prescribe eradication treatment in patients with dyspepsia without alarm symptoms. Results of this advice are controversial, principally due to absence of instruments that provide an objective measure of changes in symptoms and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate significant changes in symptom severity and quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) following Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication treatment. METHODS: We conducted an open clinical trial in adult patients with FD who were H. pylori-positive by means of 14C breath test. Treatment consisted of 2 weeks on lanzoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin. Score change on the severity of dyspepsia assessment (SODA) test instrument was used to evaluate modifications in symptom severity and quality of life. RESULTS: One hundred patients were included in this trial; treatment compliance was observed in 77% of these, while cure of H. pylori infection was obtained in 82.7% of patients. Only 11.7% displayed absence of dyspepsia symptoms and improvement in quality of life. No significant changes were obtained in global assessment nor in pain, or symptoms in health perception quality of life when initial SODA scores were compared with after-treatment results. CONCLUSIONS: There was no improvement of FD symptoms or quality of life after H. pylori eradication treatment.