Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Hispanics living in Puerto Rico: A population‐based study

• Published in: Helicobacter (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2018-02, Vol.23 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: González‐Pons, María, Soto‐Salgado, Marievelisse, Sevilla, Javier, Márquez‐Lespier, Juan M., Morgan, Douglas, Pérez, Cynthia M., Cruz‐Correa, Marcia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; birth cohort effect; Cancer; Confidence intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemiology; Etiology; Female; Females; Gastric cancer; Health risk assessment; Helicobacter Infections - blood; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori seropositivity; Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence; Hispanic; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infections; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Peptic ulcers; Population; Population density; Population studies; Population-based studies; Population‐based; Puerto Rico - epidemiology; Regression analysis; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Rural Population - statistics & numerical data; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Socioeconomic Factors; Standardization; Statistical analysis; Ulcers; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1083-4389; 1523-5378
• DOI: 10.1111/hel.12453

Background Helicobacter pylori is an important etiologic factor for peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, one of the top ten leading causes of cancer death in Puerto Rico. However, the prevalence of H. pylori infections in this population was previously unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of H. pylori and its associated risk factors in Puerto Rico. Materials and Methods A cross‐sectional study was designed using an existing population‐based biorepository. Seropositivity was determined using the Premier™ H. pylori immunoassay. Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence was estimated with 95% confidence using marginal standardization following logistic regression. To assess the risk factors associated with H. pylori seropositivity, a multivariable log‐binomial model was fitted to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results A total of 528 population‐based serum samples were analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 41 ± 12 years, of whom 55.3% were females. The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori was 33.0% (95% CI = 28.3%‐38.1%). Increasing age and having