Risk factors associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. A population-based study conducted in the province of Ourense.
OBJECTIVE
to identify the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and various factors that have been described in other studies in the general adult population in the province of Ourense.


METHODS
three hundred and eighty-three participants were enrolled in a study on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. All participants filled in a questionnaire under supervision, and the data obtained were examined by means of a univariate analysis. The odds ratio corresponding to each variable studied was calculated with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis was performed.


RESULTS
the univariate analysis revealed an association between infection and: age, place of residence during childhood, current social status based on the head of the family s profession, current blue collar/white collar profession of the head of the family, sharing a bedroom during childhood, type of drinking water, and contact with animals during childhood. No association was found with respect to the presence of dyspeptic symptoms. The multivariate analysis disclosed that only age is an independent risk factor associated with infection.


CONCLUSIONS
age has been identified as the only independent risk factor associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in this population-based study. The univariate analysis has detected other factors. No association has been identified with respect to dyspeptic symptoms.
Macenlle García
R
R
Service of Digestive Diseases, Complejo Hospitalario de Ourense, Ourense, Spain.
Gayoso Diz
P
P
Sueiro Benavides
R A
RA
Fernández Seara
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires