H. pylori eradication was superior to any other strategy for preventing recurrence after an episode of ulcer bleeding. In addition, immediate empirical antibiotic treatment was more effective and cheaper than performing H. pylori tests and treating only patients with a positive result.

A recent cost-effectiveness analysis performed by Dr Emili Gené and co-workers, researchers of the CIBERehd at the Hospital de Sabadell, was aimed to determine the most efficacious strategy for preventing recurrence of peptic ulcer bleeding.

The two H. pylori treatment strategies evaluated in the study were superior to non-treatment approaches for preventing rebleeding. When both of them were compared, empirical antibiotics were clearly better than test-guided treatment to prevent bleeding recurrence being both cheaper and more effective.

Haemorrhage is the most frequent complication of peptic ulcer disease and is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and costs. Improvements on its management and prevention are, therefore, of paramount importance.

"H pylori infection is still the most important cause of ulcer bleeding. Starting empirical antibiotic during admission for bleeding would increase adherence to treatment. In addition, it avoids undertreatment because of the false negative H pylori tests that are very frequent in this setting" said Dr. Xavier Calvet, co-author of the study, which will appear in a future issue of Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 4,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.

ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.

Source
ISPOR