A Clinicopathological Study of the Correlation Between H. pylori and Dyspepsia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Dyspepsia is a common gastrointestinal (GI) complaint affecting a significant portion of the Indian population and is often associated with <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection. The clinical presentation alone may be insufficient to predict infection, necessitating a more comprehensive diagnostic approach. This study aimed to evaluate the association between <i>H. pylori</i> and dyspepsia, and to assess the related gastroduodenal pathologies using endoscopic and histopathological evaluations. Methods This cross-sectional study included 92 adult patients presenting with clinical symptoms of dyspepsia at a tertiary care hospital in central India from November 2022 to January 2024. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and rapid urease test (RUT) for <i>H. pylori</i> detection. Biopsies were sent for histopathological analysis. Clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological findings were analyzed and compared between <i>H. pylori</i>-positive and <i>H. pylori</i>-negative groups using appropriate statistical tests. Results <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection was detected in 44 (47.8%) patients by RUT. Epigastric pain (76.1%) was the most prevalent symptom, although no significant association was found between clinical symptoms and <i>H. pylori</i> status (p > 0.05). Gastritis (72.8%) was the most common endoscopic finding, with a significant association between gastric ulcer and <i>H. pylori</i> positivity (p = 0.0368). Histopathological examination showed chronic inflammation in 12% of RUT-positive patients, which was statistically significant (p = 0.0346). Ultrasonographic findings did not show any significant correlation with <i>H. pylori</i> infection. Conclusion This study highlights the limited diagnostic value of symptoms alone in identifying <i>H. pylori</i> infection among dyspeptic patients. The findings support the routine use of endoscopic and histopathological evaluation in dyspepsia workup. Region-specific data such as this can aid in formulating more effective and individualized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for dyspepsia management in Indian clinical settings.