Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy on the Incidence of Noncardia Gastric Adenocarcinoma in a Large Diverse Population in the United States

Background & Aims

High-quality data regarding the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the risk of noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma (NCGA) remain limited in the United States. We investigated the incidence of NCGA after H pylori eradication therapy in a large, community-based US population.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of Kaiser Permanente Northern California members who underwent testing and/or treatment for H pylori between 1997 and 2015 and were followed through December 31, 2018. The risk of NCGA was evaluated using the Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model and standardized incidence ratios.

Results

Among 716,567 individuals with a history of H pylori testing and/or treatment, the adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of NCGA for H pylori–positive/untreated and H pylori–positive/treated individuals were 6.07 (4.20–8.76) and 2.68 (1.86–3.86), respectively, compared with H pylori–negative individuals. When compared directly with H pylori–positive/untreated individuals, subdistribution hazard ratios for NCGA in H pylori–positive/treated were 0.95 (0.47–1.92) at <8 years and 0.37 (0.14–0.97) ≥8 years of follow-up. Compared with the Kaiser Permanente Northern California general population, standardized incidence ratios (95% confidence interval) of NCGA steadily decreased after H pylori treatment: 2.00 (1.79–2.24) ≥1 year, 1.01 (0.85–1.19) ≥4 years, 0.68 (0.54–0.85) ≥7 years, and 0.51 (0.38–0.68) ≥10 years.

Conclusion

In a large, diverse, community-based population, H pylori eradication therapy was associated with a significantly reduced incidence of NCGA after 8 years compared with no treatment. The risk among treated individuals became lower than the general population after 7 to 10 years of follow-up. The findings support the potential for substantial gastric cancer prevention in the United States through H pylori eradication.