Do gender and age influence the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection?

• Published in: Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 2013-11, Vol.125 (21-22), p.714-716
• Main Authors: Marušić, Marinko, Majstorović Barać, Karolina, Bilić, Ante, Jurčić, Dragan, Gulić, Saša, Grubić Rotkvić, Petra, Bago, Josip
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Breath Tests - methods; Carbon Isotopes; Croatia - epidemiology; Endocrinology; Female; Gastroenterology; Helicobacter Infections - diagnosis; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Prevalence; Radiopharmaceuticals; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Short Report; Urea - analysis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0043-5325; 1613-7671
• DOI: 10.1007/s00508-013-0433-0

Summary Background 13 C urea breath test (UBT) is a noninvasive method for detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The aim of this study was to determine age and gender differences in patients with positive UBT. Patients and methods During the period 2008–2011, a total of 3,000 patients, who did not receive Hp eradication therapy before our study, underwent UBT in Laboratory of Clinical Hospital Sveti Duh. Data were analyzed according to age and gender. Results A total of 1,400 patients were positive (47 %), 670 males and 730 females (the male/female ratio for positive UBT was 0.92). The male predominance was found in people born between 1930 and 1939, 1940 and 1949, and 1960 and 1969, respectively. The majority infected are born between from 1940 and 1979, with the highest point from 1950–1969. Conclusions Our study results confirm the importance of epidemiologic characteristics of Hp infection in our region.