Background: There is a high prevalence of gastro-duodenal disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Peptic ulcer disease in dyspeptic
patients, 24.5%, was comparable to prevalence of gastro-duodenal disease among symptomatic individuals in developed countries
(12 – 25%). Limited data exists regarding its associated risk factors despite accumulating evidence indicating that gastroduodenal
disease is common in Ghana.
Objectives: This study investigates risk factors associated with gastro-duodenal disease at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra,
Ghana.
Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional design to consecutively recruit patients referred with upper gastro-intestinal
symptoms for endoscopy. The study questionnaire was administered to study participants.
Helicobacter pylori
infection was confirmed
by rapid-urease examination at endoscopy.
Results: Of 242 patients sampled; 64 had duodenal ulcer, 66 gastric ulcer, 27gastric cancer and 64 non-ulcer dyspepsia. Nineteen
(19) had duodenal and gastric ulcer while 2 had gastric ulcer and cancer. A third (32.6%) of patients had history of NSAIDuse.
H. pylori was associated with gastric ulcer (p=0.033) and duodenal ulcer (p=0.001). There was an increased prevalence of
duodenal ulcer in
H. pylori-infected patients taking NSAIDs, P=0.003.
Conclusion: H. pylori was a major risk factor for peptic ulcer disease. However, NSAID-related gastro-duodenal injury has been
shown to be common in
H. pylori infected patients. It highlights the need for awareness of the adverse gastro-intestinal effects
in a
H. pylori endemic area.
