The Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies

Abstract

Aim: Helicobacter pylori infection has been established as a definite risk factor for gastric cancer. However, the consequence of H. pylori eradication on the progression of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains controversial. The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between H. pylori eradication and the development of GERD. Methods: A comprehensive, English literature search was performed from January 1990 to April 2019. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) that evaluated the effect of H. pylori eradication on GERD were included. Meta-analysis of pooled OR was performed using Review Manger 5.1.7. Results: Seventeen articles with 6,889 subjects (intention-to-treat) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were finally included in the analysis. Of them, 8 RCTs have the similar study design and inclusion criterion, which included patients with H. pylori infection but without GERD at baseline. The OR for the development of erosive GERD after H. pylori eradication was 1.67 (95% CI 1.12–2.48, p = 0.01). The OR for the development of GERD-related symptoms after H. pylori eradication in eradication group compared with control group was 1.04 (95% CI 0.84–1.29, p = 0.71). In addition, 9 RCTs included patients with both baseline H. pylori infection and GERD. The OR for the healing rates and relapse rates after H. pylori eradication in the H. pylori eradication group vs. control group was 0.92 (95% CI 0.47–1.82, p = 0.82) and 1.12 (95% CI 0.60–2.09, p = 0.71), respectively. Conclusions: Our meta-analyses showed H. pylori eradication may lead to the development of new erosive GERD. However, eradication of H. pylori may affect neither the healing rates nor relapse rates of preexisting GERD.