Prevalence and associated risk factors of infection in community households in Lanzhou city.

BACKGROUND

() infection exhibits a familial clustering phenomenon.

AIM

To investigate the prevalence of infection, identify associated factors, and analyze patterns of transmission within families residing in the community.

METHODS

From July 2021 to September 2021, a total of 191 families (519 people) in two randomly chosen community health service centers in the Chengguan District of Lanzhou in Gansu Province, were recruited to fill out questionnaires and tested for infection. Individuals were followed up again from April 2023 and June 2023 to test for infection. The relationship between variables and infection was analyzed using logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models.

RESULTS

In 2021, the individual-based infection rate was found to be 47.0% (244/519), which decreased to 38.1% (177/464) in 2023. Additionally, the rate of individual-based new infection was 22.8% (55/241). The family-based infection rate in 2021 was 76.9% (147/191), which decreased to 67.1% (116/173) in 2023, and the rate of family-based new infection was 38.6% (17/44). Individual infection was positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), eating food that was excessively hot, frequent acid reflux, bloating, and halitosis symptoms, and negatively correlated with family size and nut consumption. New individual infection was positively correlated with BMI, other types of family structures, drinking purified water, and frequent heartburn symptoms, while negatively correlated with the use of refrigerators and following a regular eating schedule. A larger living area was an independent protective factor for infection in households. Frequently consuming excessively hot food and symptoms of halitosis were independent risk factors for infection in individuals; frequent consumption of nuts was an independent protective factor for infection. Other types of family structure, drinking purified water, and frequent heartburn symptoms were independent risk factors for new individual infection; the use of a refrigerator was an independent protective factor for new infections.

CONCLUSION

The household infection rate in Lanzhou is relatively high and linked to socio-demographic factors and lifestyles. Eradication efforts and control of related risk factors are recommended in the general population.