Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-02027-6 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Eradication of Helicobacter pylori may improve dyspepsia in the elderly
for the long term
Version: 
0 
Date: 
10 May 2021
Reviewer's report:
Review on BMGE-D-20-01383 by Tanaka I et al., entitled "Eradication of
Helicobacter pylori improves dyspepsia symptoms in elderly people"
This study evaluated the outcomes and effect of H. pylori eradication on
dyspepsia in elderly patients. 
The following comments are for the reference of authors: 
Major comments
1. In Introduction, the last sentence of the first paraphrase, "H. pylori-associated
dyspepsia (HPD) is also defined as sustained symptomatic relief for 6 to 12
months after eradication," is not clear. Why was "relief" defined as HPD?
2. Please give p values of comparisons between the two groups for each
variables in Table 2. 
3. The authors should calculate the sample size to show the results about long-
term improvement in HPD after eradication between the group N (80%) and the
group E (60%) did not have a type II error.
4. In Figure 1, please add the information about how many patients who did not
fill out the questionnaire. Thus, the readers would be easy to follow up and
understand the case number in Table 4. 
5. May consider to change supplement 3 to be a formal figure in the manuscript
because it showed the results of the primary endpoint. 
6. The primary endpoint was long-term improvement in the GOS score after
successful eradication in elderly patients with dyspepsia. Please focus on this in
the "Discussion" part.
7. What was the evidence to support the conclusion, "eradication of H. pylori
would improve dyspepsia for long term in elderly patients with dyspepsia
symptoms"? Please revise the conclusion if the evidence was weak. 
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
Are the methods sufficiently described to allow the study to be repeated?
Yes
Is the use of statistics and treatment of uncertainties appropriate?
Yes
Is the presentation of the work clear?
No
Are the images in this manuscript (including electrophoretic gels and blots) free
from apparent manipulation?
Yes