7/27/2019 Journal- Gender Associated Diff in Urea Breath Test
for h. Pylori
1/5
BRIEF ARTICLE
Gender-associated differences in urea breath test for
Helicobacter pylori infection referrals and results among
dyspeptic patients
Menachem Moshkowitz, Noya Horowitz, Anat Beit-Or, Zamir Halpern,
Erwin Santo
Menachem Moshkowitz, Noya Horowitz, Zamir Halpern, Er-,
Er-Er-win Santo,, Department of Gastroenterology, Tel-Aviv
SouraskyMedical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of
Medicine,
Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv , srael, srael, srael
Anat Beit-Or,, Maccabi Health Services, Tel-Aviv , srael, srael,
sraelAuthor contributions: Moshkowitz M, Halpern Z and Santo
Edesigned the research Moshkowitz M, eit-r A and Horowitz the
research Moshkowitz M, eit-r A and Horowitz research Moshkowitz M,
eit-r A and Horowitz
performed the research Horowitz performed analytic tools andthe
research Horowitz performed analytic tools andresearch Horowitz
performed analytic tools andperformed analytic tools andanalytic
tools and
analyzed data Moshkowitz M and Horowitz wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Menachem Moshkowitz, MD, Depart-ment of
Gastroenterology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center,
Weizmann Street, Tel-Aviv , srael. [email protected]:
+7--780 Fax: +7--7Received: March 1, 01 Revised: May , 01
Accepted: June 1, 01Published online: June 15, 01
Abstract
AIM: To verify whether there is a gender difference inthe
13C-urea breath test results in a large cohort.
METHODS: The test results of dyspeptic patients re-ferred
for
13C-urea breath testing between January and
December, 2007 were evaluated. Testing was carriedout at the
health insurance organization branches andevaluated at a central
laboratory in Israel.
RESULTS: Of a total of 28 746 test results, 18 122(63.04%) were
from females and 10 624 (36.95%)from males. Overall, 10 188 (35.4%)
results [expressedas delta over baseline (DOB)] were positive
(DOB
13C >
5), 18,326 (63.7%) were negative (DOB13
C < 3.5) and232 (0.8%) were borderline (DOB
13C 3.5-5). There was
a signicant difference between the total positive rateamong
females and males (34.8% vs 37.2%, respec-tively, P= 0.0003). The
mean test value was increasedby approximately 10 units for females
compared tomales (P< 0.01) and this difference was consistent
for
all age groups (i.e., between 10-80 years of age, P 5.0 was
considered positive for5.0 was considered positive for5.0 was
considered positive for H.
pyloriinfection, a OB < 3.5 was considered negative for3.5
was considered negative for3.5 was considered negative forH. pylori
infection and a OB of 3.5-5 was consideredas a borderline result.
All the study patients were askedto stop the use of H2 antagonists,
proton pump inhibi-tors or any antibiotics one week prior to
undergoing thebreath test.
Statistical analysisCategorical variables were summarized with
numberand percentage of patients. The 2 and Fisher exacttests were
used to compare categorical variables and theKruskal-Wallis one-way
analysis of variance was used to
analyze the demographic data. Signicance was set at a Pvalue
< 0.05. The data were analyzed using SPSS version0.05. The data
were analyzed using SPSS version.05. The data were analyzed using
SPSS version15.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL).
RESULTS
A total of 28 746746746 13C-UBTs were performed, 18
122122122(63.04%) in females and 10 624 (36.5%) in males, dur-624
(36.5%) in males, dur-624 (36.5%) in males, dur-ing the one year
study period. Figure 1 demonstrates thenumber of 13C-UBT referrals
according to the patientsage. Overall, 10 188 (35.4%)188 (35.4%)188
(35.4%) 13C-UBTs were positive (13
C > (. were negative ( (. were negative ( (. were negative
(13C < 3.5) and3.5) and3.5) and
only (0. were borderline (13C 3.5-5). The dif-
ference between the total positive rate among femalesand males
(34.8% vs. was highly signicant (P=0.0003) (Figure 2)..0003)
(Figure 2).ure 2).2).
81 June 15, 2012|Volume 3|Issue 3|WJGP|www.wjgnet.com
We analyzed the mean13
C-UBT values in bothgenders according to the patients age
(Figure 3). There
was a signicant increase of about 0 units in the mean13C-UBT
value among females compared to males andthat difference remained
constant for all age groupsbetween 10 years and 80 years of age
(P< 0.01 for each).
DISCUSSION
The main ndings of the present study are that more fe-males are
referred to 13C-UBTs than males, that the rateof positive results
is higher among males, and that thereis a highly significant
increased mean
13C-UBT value
for females in all age groups compared to age-matchedmales.
The numerical results of the13
C-UBT are the func-tion of total urease activity within the
stomach, so thetest might serve as a quantitative index of the
densityof gastric H. pyloricolonization. Previous studies have
reported inconsistent results about the relationship be-tween
13C-UBT ndings and histology-based semi quan-titative measures of
bacterial infection. Several studies
Numbe
roftests
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
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0
>10
10-20
20-30
30-40
40-50
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