Prevalence and eradication rate of helicobacter pylori infection among the patient using the low dose of aspirin attending outpatient clinic at tertiary hospitals in Dodoma, Tanzania. A prospective longitudinal observational study

Introduction: Low-dose of aspirin has been widely used by health providers as primary prevention of major cardiovascular events, its benefit counterbalanced by side effects The synergistic interaction between H. pylori infection and LDA use has been identified as a significant risk factor for peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, perforation, bleeding and gastric cancer with increase folds two to three times among H . pylori positive patient. Methodology: A prospective observational longitudinal study was carried out for patients using the low dose of aspirin attended outpatient clinic at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital and Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital in between September, 2023 to April, 2024.A sample size of 159 participants were recruited, aged 18 years or older met specified inclusion criteria. At baseline Demographic data, clinical characteristics were extracted from questionnaire form. Blood sample was collected for full blood picture and stool for H. pylori antigen test. Data analysis employing frequencies, chi-square test and binary logistic regression was done by using SPSS version 26. Statistical significance was ruled out for p  < 0.05. Results Among 159 patients enrolled in this study, mean age was 57 (IQR 20–75), 57.7% were female. The prevalence was 74.8%. Variables which show significance in this study include use of alcohol [p value = 0.007, OR = 3.24, 95% CI (1.38–7.61)], non-adherence of medications [p value = 0.001, OR = 5.5, 95% CI (2.11–14.46)], smoking [p value < 0.001, OR = 13.61, 95% CI (2.30–56.30)]. Conclusion H . pylori infection is frequently observed in patients using low dose of aspirin attending medical clinic to tertiary hospital in Dodoma. Factors which have significance with helicobacter pylori eradication failure were smoking, alcohol and non-adherence to medication during treatment period.