The Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in a Quaternary Hospital in Canada

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence in Canada has been estimated to be around 20% to 30%. However, H. pylori prevalence is declining in industrialized countries. We conducted a retrospective study on a population of patients referred for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in a Canadian quaternary hospital to see the current prevalence of H. pylori infection and identify its main risk factors.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study from the Electronic Medical Records of 500 patients who visited our endoscopy clinic and who had biopsies to search for H. pylori infection. In addition to the outcome of the biopsies, we collected demographic characteristics of patients, EGD indication and endoscopic findings.

Results

The overall prevalence of H. pylori was 13.0% (65/500) among our population. We found no association with age, sex, tobacco or alcohol consumption. However, we noticed a significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori among African (25.0%; 8/32), Asian (30.8%; 4/13) and South American (34.9%; 15/43) born subjects when compared to the Caucasian group (8.0%; 28/350) (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The prevalence of H. pylori in Canada is declining, particularly among its Caucasian population. The race seems to be the strongest risk factor associated with this infection.

Is There a Link Between H. Pylori and the Epidemiology of Crohn's Disease?

INTRODUCTION

Case control studies suggest an inverse association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Crohn's disease (CD). It is possible this could be accounted for by confounders such as antibiotic therapy. Analyzing the geographic distribution of H. pylori and the links with the incidence and prevalence of CD would be an alternative approach to circumvent these confounders.

METHODS

The literature was searched for studies published between 1990 and 2016 that reported incidence or prevalence data for CD in random population samples in developed countries (GDP per capita >20,000 USD/year). Corresponding prevalence studies for H. pylori in these same regions were then sought matched to the same time period (±6 years). The association between the incidence and prevalence of CD and H. pylori prevalence rates were assessed before and after adjusting for GDP and life expectancy.

RESULTS

A total of 19 CD prevalence and 22 CD incidence studies from 10 European countries, Japan, USA, and Australia with date-matched H. pylori prevalence data were identified. The mean H. pylori prevalence rate was 43.4% (range 15.5-85%), and the mean rates for incidence and prevalence for CD were 6.9 and 91.0/100,000 respectively. The incidence (r = -0.469, p < 0.03) and prevalence (r = -0.527, p = 0.02) of CD was inversely and significantly associated with prevalence of H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate a significant inverse association between geographic distribution of H. pylori and CD. Thus, it is highly unlikely that the findings of previous case control studies were simply due to confounding factors such as concomitant antibiotic use in CD patients.

Change of Helicobacter pylori prevalence in a decade among children undergoing endoscopy

Our aim was to investigate the trend of H. pylori infection among children during the last decade by a retrospective analysis. Reports of children in whom esophago-gastroduodenoscopy was performed at our institution during two periods 2002-2003 and 2012-2013 were seperated into Group I and Group II, respectively. Pathology reports were investigated for gastritis, atrophy and H. pylori presence. A total of 380 children, 131 in Group I and 249 in Goup II were recruited in the study. H. pylori postivity was found to be higher in Group I (% 48.1 and % 23.1, respectively, p < 0.001). Gastritis and atrophy were associated with H. pylori and both were more prevalent in Group I (p < 0.001). Our study demonstrates that H. pylori prevalence is decreasing in a pediatric population undergoing EGD in Ankara. This is the most recent study regarding pediatric H. pylori prevalence change in Turkey that we know of.