Helicobacter pylori testing is useful only in high risk patients

Helicobacter pylori testing in primary care is useful only in those at higher risk of developing peptic ulcer disease and is of no value in those at lower risk Three simple points from a patient's historysmoking, pain on an empty stomach, and history of peptic ulcer diseasecan distinguish between those at high risk and those at low risk of peptic ulcer disease. In their cross sectional study of 565 primary care patients in the Netherlands, Weijnen and colleagues (p 71) found that these three variables had odds ratios of 5.5, 2.8, and 2.0 respectively. In those found to be at higher risk using this scoring rule, the predictive value for the presence of peptic ulcer disease increased from 16% to 26% after a positive Helicobacter pylori test.

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Relevant Article

Testing for Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients suspected of peptic ulcer disease in primary care: cross sectional study

Catherine F Weijnen, Mattijs E Numans, Niek J de Wit, André J P M Smout, Karel G M Moons, Theo J M Verheij, and Arno W Hoes
BMJ 2001 323: 71-75. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]