HP and infection: As to the potential limitations of this study, one could consider the following as such: (i) a relatively limited size of the cohort (n = 266/249), (ii) failure to have a more in-dept focus on diagnosis of Hp-infections (i.e., whether current or past), (iii) failure of GPQT to diagnose GC thus leading to potential delays in diagnosis, and (iv) failure of this test to diagnose pathologies of the esophagus and duodenum.