Frequency of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

Objective: To determine the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with functional dyspepsia at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was done in the Department of Medicine, Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, between January 9 and July 8, 2024. A total of 169 consecutive patients in the age group of 18–60 years fulfilling Rome III criteria for functional dyspepsia (symptom duration >6 months) were enrolled. Diagnostic upper endoscopy was carried out, with biopsy specimens taken from abnormal gastric lesions. The Helicobacter pylori infection was documented histopathologically on Gram stain and rapid urease testing, and culture was used for discordant reports. Infection was defined as positivity in ≥2 tests. Baseline demographics (age, gender, educational/ marital status) and symptom duration were recorded. Statistical analysis used SPSS v23, with chi-square tests for associations (p≤0.05 significant). Results: Helicobacter pylori infection was detected in 86/169 patients (50.89%). Mean age was 40.11±9.08 years; mean symptom duration was 13.24±5.42 months. Gender distribution was 53.25% male (n=90) and 46.75% female (n=79). A significant association existed between male gender and H. pylori positivity (p=0.026). No associations were found with age, educational status, or marital status (p>0.05). Conclusion: Half of functional dyspepsia patients (50.9%) were infected with Helicobacter pylori, underscoring the need for routine screening in this population in endemic regions. Keywords: Dyspepsia, Helicobacter pylori, Prevalence, Pakistan, Cross-Sectional Studies.