Frecuencia de Helicobacter pylori en biopsia gástrica en pacientes de 20-50 años de edad atendidos en el Hospital del Río, Cuenca 2021-2024

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, curved, microaerophilic bacillus that colonizes the gastric mucosa and is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. In 2020, reported prevalence rates in Latin America were high (>70%), with Ecuador being one of the countries with significantly elevated figures. However, the frequency of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies from young and middle-aged adults in the local context has not been sufficiently studied, which hinders the design of specific diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Objective: To determine the frequency of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies in patients aged 20 to 50 years, treated at Hospital del Río during the period 2021-2024. Methods: The study was descriptive and retrospective, analyzing the results from the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory of Hospital del Río between 2021 and 2024. The frequency was determined using an anonymized database, and data analysis was performed with Microsoft Excel 2019 and SPSS 29. Results: The frequency of Helicobacter pylori in the studied population was 34.22%, being more common in individuals aged 36 to 40 years and predominantly in men (53.71%). The positivity rate was higher in biopsies that included both the antrum and body together (35.53%), followed by those from the body (32%) and antrum (29.07%). No relevant differences were observed between different hospital areas, and regarding place of residence, there was a higher proportion of cases in urban areas (34.98%) than in rural areas (31.49%).