H. pylori and reflux esophagitis in Turkish patients living in the Zaanstreek region in the Netherlands.

There are data on the prevalence is of reflux esophagitis in a population with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. A cross-sectional study was done in a Turkish population in The Netherlands. A total of 1640 consecutive patients with reflux esophagitis were included. Sixty-one patients were of Turkish descent. Reflux esophagitis occurred significantly more often in ethnically Dutchpeople (overall 33% vs. 9.7%, P < 0.001). H. pylori was present in 60.6% of Turkish patients and in 18.5% of Dutch patients. All Turkish patients only suffered from mild esophagitis. It is concluded that the occurrence of reflux esophagitis is low in a population of Turkish patients with a high prevalence of H. pylori.