HELICOBACTER PYLORI ASSOCIATION WITH UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOLOGIES IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Background: Pathologies of Helicobacter pylori infection show distinct regional patterns and are unclassified for Northern Ghana. Materials and Methods: Demographic and clinical data of 1580 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (Tamale Teaching Hospital) were assessed. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 73.4%. Patients 31–50 years‑old and >50 years‑old had significantly more positive H. pylori tests than the ≤30 year‑olds (odds ratios [ORs] [95% confidence interval [CIs]]: 8.6 [6.637–11.22] and 6.1 [4.609–8.203]; both, P < 0.0001). Presenting symptoms were epigastric pain (67.3%), abdominal pain (21.5%), hematemesis (7.6%), and dysphagia (2.0%). H. pylori was diagnosed in 72.5% of patients with duodenal ulcers and 77.0% with gastric ulcer (n = 444). Gastric ulcer was significantly associated with H. pylori (OR [95% CI]: 1.3 [1.01–1.69], P = 0.042), and gastritis showed a positive but not statistically significant association. Conclusions: In Northern Ghana, H. pylori infection is associated with gastritis, gastric ulcer, and duodenal ulcer and is most common in middle‑aged adults (31–50 years old).