Self-interruption of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy and its Associated Risk Factors

[ABSTRACT] [Objectives] : To determine the incidence of self-interruption of a Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication protocol and to identify its associated risk factors in Japan. [Design] : Retrospective cohort study with case-control study. [Setting] : Regional secondary care hospital in Tokyo. [Subjects] : The subjects were outpatients 20 years or older of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology from April 2002 through September 2014 with positive results of a urea breath test (UBT) for HP. [Outcome measure] : Self-interruption of the eradication therapy protocol, which was defined as failure to undergo a scheduled post-eradication therapy UBT. [Results] : Of 2,488 patients, 270 had self-interrupted. Associated with self-interruption was the presence of gastric and duodenal ulcers (adjusted odds ratio = 2.220, p = 0.001). An age of >- 50 years was less strongly associated with self-interruption than was an age < 40 years (adjusted odds ratio = 0.467, 0.307, and 0.185 and p = 0.011,