The Patients' Adherence and Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) which are Caused by Helicobacter pylori Eradication Regimens.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of upper gastrointestinal disorders. The eradication of H. pylori has been recommended for the treatment of different gastrointestinal diseases. Notwithstanding, a combination therapy is needed for Helicobacter pylori eradication, but using these medications can be the cause, the incidence risk of patients' adherence to treatment regimens reduction and probably increase risk of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRS), so, it is seem that evaluation the out come of combination therapy is need more than the past.

AIM

The aim of present study was to determine the patients' adherence to the treatment and the ADRs with five eradiation regimens.

SETTING AND DESIGN

A cross sectional study was done in a well known referral clinic of gastrointestinal disorders in Tehran, Iran.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Ninety patients were evaluated the study (18 in each of the five regimens). The adherence to the treatment and the ADRs of the patients were asked during the treatment, twice, by doing telephone assays.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

The data were analyzed by using the SPSS, 17 software and the statistical significance was accepted for the P values of 0.05.

RESULTS

81% of the patients had a good adherence and there was no significant difference between the types of regimens (triple or quadruple therapy) and the adherence to the treatment regimens by the patients (p=0.6). Also, we found that there was no significant relationship between the types of regimens and the sex (p=0.99), education level (p=0.99), accommodation (p=0.93), an existence of underlying disease (p=0.86) and the concurrent use other medications (p=0.93). But there was a significant relationship between the patients' age and adherence to the treatment regimens (p=0.008). The most reported ADRs belonged to gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (an abnormal taste had the most prevalence (36.6%) among the GI disorders). There was no significant relationship between the regimen type and the GI ADRs, (p=0.48).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study showed that the patients' adherence to the treatment regimens and the ADRs did not have a significant relationship with the various eradication regimens for H. pylori. It seems that the type of H. pylori eradication regimen may not be an important factor in the patients' adherence to the treatment regimens and the ADRs.