Baseline characteristics of the study sample (after 1:1 matching)
| Variable | Proportion among patients with H. pylori (N, %), n=25 317 | Proportion among patients without H. pylori (N, %), n=25 317 | P value |
| Age (mean, SD) | 53.2 (15.8) | 53.2 (15.8) | 0.453 |
| Age 18–30 | 5805 (22.9) | 5814 (23.0) | 1.000 |
| Age 31–40 | 5115 (20.2) | 5115 (20.2) | |
| Age 41–50 | 5839 (23.1) | 5840 (23.1) | |
| Age 51–60 | 4492 (17.7) | 4491 (17.7) | |
| Age >60 | 4065 (16.1) | 4057 (16.0) | |
| Female | 14 741 (58.2) | 14 733 (58.2) | 0.943 |
| Male | 10 576 (41.8) | 10 584 (41.8) | |
| Number of physician visits per year during the follow-up (mean, SD) | 7.5 (3.8) | 7.5 (3.8) | 0.969 |
| Charlson Comorbidity Score (CCS) | 2.0 (1.8) | 2.0 (1.8) | 0.992 |
| CCS 0 | 5130 (20.3) | 5130 (20.3) | 1.000 |
| CCS 1 | 6699 (26.5) | 6701 (26.5) | |
| CCS 2 | 5322 (21.0) | 5322 (21.0) | |
| CCS 3 | 3715 (14.7) | 3713 (14.7) | |
| CCS>3 | 4451 (17.6) | 4451 (17.6) | |
| Index year 2005–2008 | 3078 (12.2) | 3081 (12.2) | 1.000 |
| Index year 2009–2012 | 4783 (18.9) | 4777 (18.9) | |
| Index year 2013–2016 | 8414 (33.2) | 8414 (33.2) | |
| Index year 2017–2021 | 9042 (35.7) | 9045 (35.7) |
Proportions of patients given in N and % unless otherwise indicated.