Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among dyspeptic patients in Northwestern Romania: A decreasing epidemiological trend in the last 30 years

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (HP) has an unknown prevalence in several Romanian regions. Recent data are missing. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dyspepsia in the North-West part of Romania and to analyze the epidemiological trends of HP infection prevalence in a symptomatic population in this region by comparing with previous published data. Our study population consisted of 414 patients: 264 female (63.8%) and 150 male (36.2%), mean age 45.89±17.24 years (range, 6-97 years) who attended a single secondary center in Zalau, Salaj, North-West Romania, between 2014 and 2018 for dyspeptic symptoms, either by their own initiative or by referral from their general practitioner. Testing was performed by IgG anti-HP assessment G anti-HP antibodies were found in 169 individuals (40.8%). In females, the prevalence of HP infection was 40.53% (107/264) and in males 41.35% (62/150). There was a higher prevalence of positive antibodies in the rural areas compared with urban areas (42.29 vs. 39.75%). In conclusion, the prevalence of HP infection is 40.8%, without sex differences in dyspeptic patients from a representative population in North-Western Romania and the prevalence increases with age. Comparing our results with those of previous studies on the prevalence of HP infection from the same region, we were able to signal a decline in prevalence in HP infection over a 30-year interval.