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Objective. Helicobacter pylori infection has not been stud- ied thoroughly in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of stool antigen assay (HpSA) in the assessment of H. pylori infection in hospitalized, frail, elderly patients. Material and methods. The study population consisted of 85 consecutively recruited elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) hospitalized between May 1999 and December 2001 with diagnostic indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Twenty- nine subjects had been receiving treatment with proton- pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole (10- 20 mg/day) for 2- 15 days, and 56 were not receiving treatment. HpSA was evaluated versus UBT (urea breath test), serology and histology: patients with at least two positive results out of the latter three tests were considered positive for H. pylori infection, while patients with at least two negative tests out of three were considered negative. Results. The sensitivity and specificity of HpSA in the 56 untreated patients were, respectively, 76% (true positives TP = 22; false negatives FN = 7) and 93% (true negatives TN = 25; false positives FP =2). The sensitivity and specificity of HpSA in the 29 patients on PPI treatment were, respectively, 82% (TP = 9; FN = 2) and 83% (TN = 15; FP = 3). Conclusions. HpSA is an accurate, noninvasive and easy method for diagnosing H. pylori infection in elderly patients.
Objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of stool antigen assay (HpSA) in the assessment of H. pylori infection in hospitalized, frail, elderly patients. Material and methods. The study population consisted of 85 consecutively recruited elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) hospitalized between May 1999 and December 2001 with diagnostic indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Twenty- nine subjects had been receiving treatment with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) , such as omeprazole (10-20 mg / day) for 2- 15 days, and 56 were not receiving treatment. HpSA was evaluated versus UBT (urea breath test), serology and histology: patients with at least two positive results out of the latter three tests were considered positive for H. pylori infection, while patients with at least two negative tests out of three were considered negative. Results. The sensitivity and specificity of The sensitivity and specificity of HpSA in the HpSA in the 56 untreated patients were, respectively, 76% (true positives TP = 22; false negatives FN = 7) and 93% (true negatives TN = 25; false positives FP = 2) HpSA is an accurate, noninvasive and easy method for diagnosing H. pylori infection (29 patients on PPI treatment were respectively, 82% (TP = 9; FN = 2) and 83% in elderly patients.