Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment and the risk of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with lower risks of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, but whether H. pylori eradication increases the risk of these conditions is unknown. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that H. pylori eradication leads to gradually increased risks of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma over time, while esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was assessed for comparison reasons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This Swedish nationwide, population-based cohort study in 2005-2012 used data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry to assess eradication treatment for H. pylori. Barrett's esophagus was identified from the Swedish Patient Registry, and esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma from the Swedish Cancer Registry. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by dividing the observed risk in the H. pylori eradication treatment cohort by the expected risk derived from the Swedish population of the same age, sex, and calendar period. RESULTS: The cohort included 81 919 patients having had eradication treatment. For Barrett's esophagus (n = 178), the overall SIR was increased (SIR 3.67, 95% CI 3.15-4.25), but the SIRs slightly decreased over time after eradication treatment. For esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 11), the overall SIR was 1.26 (95% CI 0.62-2.26), and the SIRs did not increase over time. The SIRs of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (n = 10) were not influenced by eradication treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study did not provide any evidence of an increasing risk of Barrett's esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma (or esophageal squamous cell carcinoma) over time after eradication treatment for H. pylori.

Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment and the risk of gastric adenocarcinoma in a Western population.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori is a strong risk factor for non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to assess whether the risk of gastric adenocarcinoma and non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma decreases after eradication treatment for H. pylori in a Western population. DESIGN: This was a nationwide, population-based cohort study in Sweden in 2005-2012. Data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry provided information on H. pylori eradication treatment, whereas information concerning newly developed gastric adenocarcinoma was retrieved from the Swedish Cancer Registry. The risk of gastric adenocarcinoma and non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma in individuals who had received H. pylori eradication treatment was compared with the background population of the corresponding age, sex and calendar year distribution, yielding standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% CIs. RESULTS: During the follow-up of 95 176 individuals who had received eradication treatment (351 018 person-years at risk), 75 (0.1%) developed gastric adenocarcinoma and 69 (0.1%) developed non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma. The risk of gastric adenocarcinoma decreased over time after eradication treatment to levels below that of the corresponding background population. The SIRs were 8.65 (95% CI 6.37 to 11.46) for 1-3 years, 2.02 (95% CI 1.25 to 3.09) for 3-5 years and 0.31 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.67) for 5-7.5 years after eradication treatment. When restricted to non-cardia adenocarcinoma, the corresponding SIRs were 10.74 (95% CI 7.77 to 14.46), 2.67 (95% CI 1.63 to 4.13) and 0.43 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.93). CONCLUSION: Eradication treatment for H. pylori seems to counteract the development of gastric adenocarcinoma and non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma in this Western population.

Colicky pain and related complications after cholecystectomy for mild gallstone pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Same-admission cholecystectomy is advised after gallstone pancreatitis to prevent recurrent pancreatitis, colicky pain and other complications, but data on the incidence of symptoms and complications after cholecystectomy are lacking. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study during the previously published randomized controlled PONCHO trial on timing of cholecystectomy after mild gallstone pancreatitis. Data on healthcare consumption and questionnaires focusing on colicky pain and biliary complications were obtained during 6 months after cholecystectomy. Main outcomes were (i) postoperative colicky pain as reported in questionnaires and (ii) medical treatment for postoperative symptoms and gallstone related complications. RESULTS: Among 262 patients who underwent cholecystectomy after mild gallstone pancreatitis, 28 of 191 patients (14.7%) reported postoperative colicky pain. The majority of these were reported within 2 months after surgery and were single events. Overall, 25 patients (9.5%) required medical treatment for symptoms or gallstone related complications. Acute readmission was required in seven patients (2.7%). No predictors for the development of postoperative colicky pain were identified. DISCUSSION: Some 15% of patients experienced colicky pain after cholecystectomy for mild gallstone pancreatitis, which were mostly single events and rarely required readmission. These data may be used to better inform patients undergoing cholecystectomy for mild gallstone pancreatitis.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in the Swedish population.

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori is associated with peptic ulcers and gastric cancer and its eradication aims to prevent these conditions. The recommended eradication regimen is triple therapy, consisting of a proton-pump inhibitor in combination with clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole for 7 days. Yet, other antibiotic regimens are sometimes prescribed. We aimed to assess the use of eradication therapy for H. pylori in the Swedish population during the last decade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This population-based study used data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. From July 2005 until December 2014, all regimens that can eradicate H. pylori were identified and evaluated according to patients' age and sex and calendar year of eradication. RESULTS: We identified 157,915 eradication episodes in 140,391 individuals (53.8% women, 42.6% older than 60 years), who correspond to 1.5% of the Swedish population. The absolute number and incidence of eradications decreased over the study period. Overall, 91.0% had one eradication and 0.1% had more than three. Of all eradications, 95.4% followed the recommended regimen, while 4.7% did not. The latter group was overrepresented among individuals aged ≥80 years (7.8%). Amoxicillin and clarithromycin were most frequently prescribed, while metronidazole was rarely used (0.01%). Other prescribed antibiotics were ciprofloxacin (2.4%), doxycycline (1.4%), nitrofurantoin (0.7%), norfloxacin (0.5%) and erythromycin (0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: During the last decade in Sweden H. pylori eradication has been frequently prescribed, but the incidence of eradication has slowly declined. Most eradications followed the recommended regimen, including those occurring after a previous eradication.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with an increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and a decreased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We aimed to assess how eradication therapy for H. pylori influences the risk of developing these cancers. METHODS: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library and selected articles that examined the risk of gastric cancer, MALT lymphoma, or esophageal cancer following eradication therapy, compared with a noneradicated control group. RESULTS: Among 3629 articles that were considered, nine met the inclusion criteria. Of these, eight cohort studies assessed gastric cancer while one randomized trial assessed esophageal cancer. Out of 12 899 successfully eradicated patients, 119 (0.9%) developed gastric cancer, compared with 208 (1.1%) out of 18 654 noneradicated patients. The pooled relative risk of gastric cancer in all eight studies was 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.32 to 0.66, I(2) = 32.3%) favoring eradication therapy. The four studies adjusting for time of follow-up and confounders showed a relative risk of 0.46 (95% CI = 0.29 to 0.72, I(2) = 44.4%). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that eradication therapy for H. pylori prevents gastric cancer. There was insufficient literature for meta-analysis of MALT lymphoma or esophageal cancer.

[Why oesophageal adenocarcinoma is occurring more frequently]. / Waarom adenocarcinoom van de slokdarm vaker voorkomt.

The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has increased rapidly over the past decades in the Western world. The prognosis is poor with a mean 5-year survival rate of 19% in the Netherlands. Important risk factors that might account for this rising incidence are reflux, obesity and the absence of Helicobacter pylori. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is 9 times more likely in men than in women. The reason for this much higher incidence of adenocarcinoma in men is still unclear, but sex hormones may play a role.

Early complications following oesophagectomy for cancer in relation to long-term healthcare utilisation: a prospective population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how early postoperative complications after oesophagectomy for cancer influence healthcare utilisation in the long-term. We hypothesised that these complications also increase healthcare utilisation long after the recovery period. METHODS: This was a prospective, nationwide Swedish population-based cohort study of patients who underwent curatively intended oesophagectomy for cancer in 2001-2005 and survived at least 1 year postoperatively (n = 390). Total days of in-hospitalisation, number of hospitalisations and number of visits to the outpatient clinic within 5 years of surgery were analysed using quasi-Poisson models with adjustment for patient, tumour and treatment characteristics and are expressed as incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: There was an increased in-hospitalisation period 1-5 years after surgery in patients with more than 1 complication (IRR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.4). The IRR for the number of hospitalisations by number of complications was 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.6), and 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.6) for number of outpatient visits in patients with more than 1 complication. The IRR for in-hospitalisation period 1-5 years following oesophagectomy was 1.8 (95% CI 1.0-3.0) for patients with anastomotic insufficiency and 1.5 (95% CI 0.9-2.5) for patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular complications. We found no association with number of hospitalisations (IRR 1.2, 95% CI 0.7-2.0) or number of outpatient visits (IRR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.7) after anastomotic insufficiency, or after cardiovascular or cerebrovascular complications (IRR 1.2, 95% CI 0.7-1.9) and (IRR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.5) respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed an increased total in-hospitalisation period 1-5 years after oesophagectomy for cancer in patients with postoperative complications, particularly following anastomotic insufficiency.