Retrospective Evaluation of Stool Helicobacter pylori Antigen Test, Endoscopy and Histopathological Findings in Elderly Patients with Dyspepsia

Aim: The number of studies examining the frequency of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, Hp antigen (Ag) test in the stool together with endoscopy and pathology findings in the elderly is limited in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Hp Ag positivity in the stool samples of elderly patients who checked in to the internal medicine clinics of our hospital with dyspepsia and its relationship with age, gender, seasonal changes, endoscopy and pathology findings. Materials and Methods: The data of the geriatric patients whose stool samples were investigated for the presence of Hp Ag who applied to the Internal Medicine Clinics of our university with dyspepsia between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Besides demographic and clinical data, endoscopy and pathology reports were recorded. Results: A total of 2276 patients were included in the study. 60.3% of the patients who requested Hp Ag test were female. Of the total 592 stool samples tested, 20.3% were positive. Hp positivity was highest in the young -old group with a rate of 81.7% (p<0.01). In the distribution of Hp positivity, according to the seasons, it was observed that the highest positivity rate was in winter with 44.2% (p<0.001). It was found that endoscopy was performed in 11.4% of the patients, and the most common findings were gastritis in 76.9%, and duodenitis in 38.5% in patients whose Hp Ag test positive and undervent endoscopy. Conclusion: Hp infection appears to be more common in the young -old group and in the winter months. Although in the guidelines endoscopy is recommended for elderly patients presenting with dyspepsia, it has been observed that endoscopy was performed at a low rate in elderly patients. Endoscopy should not be avoided in elderly patients presenting with dyspepsia.