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

La infeccion por Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) y las omplicaciones asociadas, como el cancer gastrico, representan un verdadero problema de salud publica porque lideran las tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad en Colombia y Latinoamerica, en donde es altamente prevalente. Objetivo: caracterizar la prevalencia de la infeccion por H. pylori en la poblacion medica de Medellin, Colombia. Metodos: se realizo un estudio epidemiologico bservacional transversal donde se incluyeron 342 medicos. Se evaluo la presencia de la infeccion por H. pylori mediante la prueba de aliento con urea marcada con carbono 13 y su asociacion con aspectos personales, antecedentes de enfermedad gastrica y manifestaciones clinicas. Resultados: se encontro una prevalencia general de infeccion por H. pylori de 77.2% (IC 95%: 72.4% a 81.5%), que discriminada por genero epresenta una prevalencia de 78.4% en hombres y 72.6% en mujeres, sin asociacion significativa (Chi- –cuadrado p= 0.37). Del total de los 342 participantes, 183 (53.5%) presentaron al menos un evento sospechoso de enfermedad gastrica y de estos, 141 (77%) fueron positivos y 42 (23%) negativos para H. pylori; de los 264 participantes H. pylori positivos, 141 (53.4%) presentaban antecedentes de enfermedad gastrica y 123 (46.6%) fueron asintomaticos. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de la infeccion por H. pylori en lapoblacion medica de Medellin, Colombia, es de 77.2% (IC 95%: 72.4% a 81.5%), acorde con el perfil epidemiologico de la region. Ademas, el 46.6% de los individuos infectados por H. pylori fueron asintomaticos y no hay antecedentes ni sintomas que permitan sospechar la presencia de la bacteria, la cual solo es posible determinar tras el estudio apropiado de los individuos. 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 Medellin, 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 Medellin, 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.