Epidemiological study of the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the general population in Asturias, Spain.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori is a worldwide infection, and it is estimated that approximately 50% of the general population is affected. However, its distribution varies considerably between developed and developing countries.


OBJECTIVE
in the present study we report the results of an epidemiological investigation of the prevalence of H. pylori infection in the general population in Asturias (Northern Spain), in order to describe the current state of this infection in our region, and obtain figures for comparison with the results obtained in different communities of Spain and other countries.


METHODS
a descriptive transversal, epidemiological study, based on the serological determination of the IgG antibodies against H. pylori was carried out in the general population of a randomly selected sample of subjects without previous gastroduodenal antecedents.


METHODS
we analyzed 480 serum samples obtained from the general population of Asturias. These were divided into decades according to the age pyramid and tested for the presence of antibodies against H. pylori with a commercially available latex agglutination technique (Pyloriset).


RESULTS
the global prevalence of H. pylori infection in our study was 226/480 (49.2%), and was slightly higher in women (50.6%) compared to men (47.6%). No significant differences were found between sexes (p = 0.51). In the first decade mean prevalence was 13.6%. In the second this figure was 25.4%, and it increased steadily to a maximum in the sixth decade of 76.4%. Thereafter, the prevalence decreased to 66.6% in persons over 80 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
we found a high prevalence approximately 50% of H. pylori infection in the general population of Asturias, as in other epidemiological studies in Spain and other European countries. The distribution according to age shows a clear tendency to increase, from childhood to adolescence and adult life (50-60 years), when prevalence is highest (76%). From this decade onwards it begins to decrease, showing a clear cohort effect with a pattern intermediate between that of developed and developing countries.
Rodrigo Sáez
L
L
Servicio de Digestivo, Hospital Central de Asturias (Oviedo).
Riestra Menéndez
S
S
Fernández Rodríguez
E
E
Fernández Velázquez
M R
MR
García Alonso
S
S
Lauret Braña
M E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G