Prevalence of Peptic Ulcer Disease in Asymptomatic Subjects Referring to the Check- Up Clinic of Razavi Hospital from 2006 - 2011

Background: Life style change is considered as a factor affecting on the increasing number of subjects with peptic ulcer disease (PUD). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is regarded as a risk factor for the mentioned disease. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the prevalence of PUD in asymptomatic subjects referring to the check-up clinic of Razavi Hospital and the relation between PUD and H. pylori. Materials and Methods: 499 asymptomatic subjects who had referred to the Check-Up Clinic of Razavi Hospital from 2006 till 2011 included in this study. Their data including: age, sex, endoscopy report and rapid urease test (RUT) were evaluated and the results of 260 Biopsy were analyzed by SPSS. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 52 which included 73.1% males and 26.9% females. Positive H. Pylori were reported in 75.2% of males and 24.8% of females. Endoscopy results revealed 57.2% subjects with PUD from which 23% were seen with erosion, 11.6% with gastritis, 11.4% with ulcer, 8% with erythema, 1.6% with sub epithelial hemorrhage, 0.8% with deodenitis and 0.8% with gastroduodenitis. In 72% of subjects that their endoscopy showed PUD and in 38% of the subjects with normal endoscopy, positive RUT was reported. There was a significant relation between PUD observed in endoscopy and RUT (P = 0.001). In 89.6% of subjects who had PUD in biopsy, 57.7% subjects had gastritis with positive H. pylori and 13.8% subjects had gastritis without H. Pylori. There was a significant relation between gastritis incidence based on biopsy and RUT (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of PUD is more common in asymptomatic males than females. Regarding the high prevalence of PUD and H. pylori in the population under study and according to other studies, life style change and healthy nutrition are considered as effective factors in PUD prevention. According to the results of this study, the patients with upper GI symptoms should be suspect to PUD and positive H. pylori infection.