Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in different ethnic groups in New Zealand children and adults.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. A study of patients with dyspepsia attending for gastroscopy showed significant differences in H. pylori seropositivity between ethnic groups.

AIMS

To determine the prevalence of H. pylori in children and adults in the community in different ethnic groups and to identify risk factors for infection.

METHODS

Serum samples (324) were randomly selected from a cross-sectional survey of 11-12 year old school children with a high proportion of Maori and Pacific Island groups. Serum samples (579) were randomly selected from a cross-sectional workforce survey of 5677 participants aged 40-64 years. Serum samples were tested for H.pylori IgG.

RESULTS

The percentage seropositivity in 11-12 year old children was European 7%, Maori/part Maori 21%, all Pacific Island groups 48% and for the workforce survey 35.8%, 57.4% and 73.2% respectively. Compared with Europeans the increased relative risk of seropositivity for H.pylori in Maori and Pacific Island participants was significant after adjusting for age and socio-economic status (1.43 [1.13, 1.80] and 1.76 [1.43, 2.18]) respectively. The relative risk of H.pylori infection significantly increased with age, lower socio-economic status and lower household income, but was not significantly associated with gender, alcohol or cigarette use.

CONCLUSIONS

The high seroprevalence of H.pylori in Maori and Pacific Island groups is consistent with the differences in incidence of gastric cancer. H.pylori continues to be a common infection in Maori and Pacific Island school children. Ethnicity appears to be a risk factor for H.pylori independent of socio-economic status.