Prevalencia de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en médicos de Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

RESUMEN: La infección por Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) y las complicaciones asociadas, como el cáncer gástrico, re presentan un verdadero problema de salud pública porque lideran las tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad en Colombia y Latinoamérica, en donde es altamente pre valente. Objetivo: caracterizar la prevalencia de la in fección por H. pylori en la población médica de Mede llín, Colombia. Métodos: se realizó un estudio epide miológico observacional transversal donde se incluye ron 342 médicos. Se evaluó la presencia de la infección por H. pylori mediante la prueba de aliento con urea marcada con carbono 13 y su asociación con aspectos personales, antecedentes de enfermedad gástrica y ma nifestaciones clínicas. Resultados: se encontró una pre valencia general de infección por H. pylori de 77.2% (IC 95%: 72.4% a 81.5%), que discriminada por gé nero representa una prevalencia de 78.4% en hombres y 72.6% en mujeres, sin asociación significativa (Chi- –cuadrado p= 0.37). Del total de los 342 participan tes, 183 (53.5%) presentaron al menos un evento sos pechoso de enfermedad gástrica y de éstos, 141 (77%) fueron positivos y 42 (23%) negativos para H. pylori

ABSTRACT: Infection by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and its associated complications, such as gastric cancer, constitute a true public health problem due to the high morbidity and mortality rates in Colombia and Latin America, where it is highly prevalent. Objective: To characterize the prevalence of H. pylori infection in the medical population of Medellín, Colombia. Methods: A transversal-cut observational epidemiological study was done, 342 physicians were included. The presence of H. pylori infection, diagnosed with carbon 13-labelled urea breath test, and its association with personal aspects, history of gastric disease and clinical manifestations was evaluated. Results: The general prevalence of H. pylori infection was found to be 77.2% (CI 95%: 72.4% to 81.5%). Discriminating by gender, it represents a prevalence of 78.4% in men and 72.6% in women, without any significant association (chisquare, p=0.37). Of the total 342 participants, 183 (53.5%) presented at least one suspected episode of gastric disease, and of these, 141 (77%) were positive and 42 (23%) were negative for H. pylori; of the 264 H. pylori positive participants, 141 (53.4%) had history of gastric disease and 123 (46.6%) were asymptomatic. Conclusions: Prevalence of H. pylori infection in the medical population in Medellín, Colombia, is 77.2% (CI 95%: 72.4% to 81.5%), in accordance to the epidemiologic profile of the region. Also, 46.6% of individuals infected by H. pylori were asymptomatic and with no history or symptoms suggestive of the presence of the bacteria, which is only possible to determine after appropriate testing of the individuals.