First-line Helicobacter pylori empirical treatment in the Czech Republic (2019–2024) – initial insights from the European registry on H. pylori management (Hp-EuReg)
Authors: Křivinka Jan , Kunovský Lumír , Vaculová Jitka , Král Jan , Hrubá Sabina , Šembera Štěpán , Tachecí Ilja , Čavajdová Petra , Vašura Adam , Blaho Martin , Koňaříková Petra , Evinová Eva , Langner Jakub , Vacková Zuzana , Tesaříková Pavla , Friedová Natálie , Bauer Petr , Přidal David , Sychra Pavel , Cano-Català Anna , Moreira Leticia , Parra Pablo , Mégraud Francis , O’Morain Colm , Nyssen Olga , Gisbert Javier 
Published: September 2024

Summary: Background and Aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains a significant public health concern worldwide, including in the Czech Republic. The study aims to provide an overview of the current first-line treatment approaches for H. pylori infection in the Czech Republic based on data from the European Registry on H. pylori Management (Hp-EuReg), and to evaluate the most effective treatment regimens. Methods: Hp--EuReg is an international multicentric registry on the management of H. pylori, from which we extracted data from the Czech Republic from 2019 to January 2024. This registry collects demographic information, diagnostic procedures, treatment prescriptions, and outcomes for H. pylori infection management by gastroenterologists. A modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments. Results: A total of 546 patients from 14 centres in the Czech Republic who receive first-line treatment were analysed. Low-dose (i.e.; 20 mg omeprazole equivalent twice daily) proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were administered in 89% of patients, and the most common length of treatments was 14 days (40%). The overall mITT effectiveness of first-line treatment was 85%, obtaining 86% when prescriptions were combined either with low-dose (20 mg omeprazole equivalent twice daily), and high dose (80 mg omeprazole equivalent twice daily) PPIs, and 82.5% with standard-dose (40 mg omeprazole equivalent twice daily) PPIs. The effectiveness of 7-day prescriptions was reported to be 83%, lower than that of 10- and 14-day, both of which achieved effectiveness of 86%. The most frequently used treatment scheme was triple therapy with PPI, amoxicillin and clarithromycin, which was used in 67% of patients, reaching 87% effectiveness both with 7- and 14-day prescriptions. Optimal (>90% mITT) effectiveness was obtained with both 10-day, sequential therapy and with 14-day non-bismuth quadruple concomitant therapy including both PPI, amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole, providing 96% (48/50 patients) and 97% (34/35 patients) cure rates, respectively. The remaining therapies provided all an effectiveness lower than 90%, the lowest one obtained with PPI, clarithromycin and metronidazole (66%; 35/53 patients). Conclusions: In the Czech Republic, the first-line empirical treatment overall effectiveness was suboptimal (<90%); however, 10-day non-bismuth quadruple sequential and 14-day concomitant therapies, both composed of PPI, amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole, achieved over 90% cure rates. Key-words: Helicobacter pylori – first-line treatment – proton pump inhibitors – Czech Republic