Korean J Med.  2006 Jun;70(6):636-642.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in health check-up subjects

• Yim JY
• Choi SH
• Park MJ
• Kim YS
• Lim SH
• Choi KR
• Kim DH
• Kim CH
• Jung IK
• Choi SH
• Kim SS
• Kim JH
• Sin CS
• Cho SH
• Oh BH
• Kim N

Abstract

BACKGROUND: H. pylori-associated gastrointestinal diseases have been widely recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate the seropositivity of H. pylori in health check-up subjects and to find out the relating factors.
METHODS
From November 2004 through June 2005, total 7,676 health check-up subjects (age > or =20) responded to the self administered questionnaires. The prevalence of H. pylori was assessed by measuring anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies.
RESULTS
The overall seropositivity was 56.7% in 7,676 and 1,137 (14.8%) has been found to have history of H. pylori eradication therapy. The seropositivity rate of H. pylori was 61.3% (2,653) in 4,328 subjects without history of H. pylori eradication and current gastrointestinal symptoms. Seroprevalence of H. pylori was significantly lower in 20~29 years old, female, high income and subjects from Seoul respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The seropositivity of H. pylori in 2004~2005 is found to be 61.3% in subjects without history of H. pylori eradication and current gastrointestinal symptoms. This seems to be lower than 66.9%, the seroprevalence rate in asymptomatic Korean population in the age of > or =16 years in 1998. This decrease might be caused by improvement of socioeconomic status.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; Seroepidemiologic studies; Eradication

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Female
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Helicobacter pylori*
Helicobacter*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Prevalence
Seoul
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
Social Class
Surveys and Questionnaires
Antibodies
Immunoglobulin G