Seroprevalence and risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in Greenlanders.
BACKGROUND
In contrast to most populations worldwide, the incidence of gastric cancer increases among Inuit in Greenland. Contributing factors to this increase are unknown, but Helicobacter pylori may be involved. However, little is known regarding the epidemiology of H. pylori in Arctic communities. With the aim of determining age-specific prevalence, risk factors, and association with clinical conditions of H. pylori infection, we carried out a population-based study of H. pylori in Sisimiut, the second biggest town of Greenland.


METHODS
A population-based sample of 685 persons had serum drawn that was analyzed for H. pylori IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Risk factors analyses were carried out using multivariate logistic regression models.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence was lowest among children aged 0-4 years (6%), but increased rapidly thereafter. In persons aged 15-87 years the seroprevalence had stabilized around 58%. Total number of children in household, number of older, but not younger, siblings and narrow age gap to closest older sibling were associated with H. pylori seropositivity. In contrast, number of adults in household and socioeconomic status did not influence serostatus.


CONCLUSIONS
The age-specific prevalence pattern in Greenland is intermediate between that of developing and developed countries. The risk factor pattern indicates crowding and older siblings in particular to be key elements in risk of infection.
Koch
Anders
A
Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark. ako@ssi.dk
Krause
Tyra Grove
TG
Krogfelt
Karen
K
Olsen
Ove Rosing
OR
Fischer
Thea Kølsen
TK
Melbye
Mads
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G