The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach and reflux esophagitis in patients referring to Khorramabad Shohada Hospital, Lorestan province, southwest Iran between 2014 and 2018

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common disorder of the digestive tract. Esophageal mucosa exposure to gastric acid can lead to mucosal damage such as esophagitis.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach and reflux esophagitis in patients referring to the endoscopy units of hospitals in Khorramabad between 2014 and 2018.

In this cross-sectional study, all patients who referred for endoscopy to the Endoscopy Units of Shohadaye Ashayer and Shahid Rahimi Hospitals of Khorramabad during 2014-2018 were studied. H. pylori infection was diagnosed based on pathological specimens. All patientschr('39') information including age, sex, presence of esophagitis (its grade), and H. pylori infection were recorded in the questionnaires and their relationship with esophagitis and its grade as well as H. pylori infection was statistically analyzed. Tables and charts were used to describe the data. t-test and Chi-squared test were used to investigate the relationship between variables.

The frequency of esophagitis in our patients was 52.8%, with the highest frequency obtained for grade B esophagitis (48%). In this study, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 57.5%. This rate was 55.4% in patients with esophagitis, with a statistically significant difference to the group without esophagitis (P=0.0009). There was a significant relationship between grade A esophagitis and H. pylori infection (P=0.0002).

This study suggests a significant relationship between H. pylori infection and esophagitis in affected patients.