Factors related to loss to follow‐up and low compliance in Helicobacter pylori ‐infected children: The EuroPedHp Registry

OBJECTIVES: Monitoring for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-eradication is important, since symptom improvement does not indicate treatment success. Using EuroPedHp Registry data, we investigated characteristics of children missing monitoring visits after prescribed therapy, compliance effect on eradication, and factors associated with loss to follow-up and low compliance. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2020, 30 paediatric hospitals from 17 European countries reported 1605 children with biopsy-proven H. pylori-infection. Children with prescribed therapy were analysed. Risk factors for loss to follow-up or low compliance (taking ≤90% of prescribed medications) were identified applying multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 1263 infected children with prescribed therapy, 390 (31%) were lost to follow-up. Risk factors for loss to follow-up included nausea/dyspepsia (p = 0.004) or gastrointestinal bleeding (p = 0.03) as indication for endoscopy, living in Israel or Türkiye (p = 0.0002), and having no antibiotic susceptibility result (p = 0.004). Risk decreased with living in Southern Europe (p = 0.002), migration background (p = 0.052), and probiotic use during therapy (p = 0.02). Low compliance, reported in 69/831 (8%) children with follow-up data, was associated with vomiting (p = 0.003), peptic ulcers or erosions (p = 0.03), living in EasternEurope (p = 0.009), Israel or Türkiye (p = 0.0008), and any adverse event during therapy (p = 0.0009). First-line tailored triple therapy (TTT) for 14 days (N = 480) was successful in 92% with excellent versus 61% with low compliance (p < 0.0001). After ≥1 failed therapies (N = 60), TTT was successful in 71% with high versus 13% with low compliance (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The registry data identified several factors associated with non-adherence to medication and monitoring visits. Improving information to patient/caregiver may increase adherence, care and treatment success.