title: Decreasing seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection during 1993-2003 in Guangzhou, southern China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is inversely associated with socioeconomic conditions. The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection during 1993-2003 in Guangzhou, a representative city of southern China with quick improvement in socioeconomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March to August 2003, sera were collected from 1471 healthy persons (760 male and 711 female subjects, aged 3-92 years) undergoing annual routine health examination in Guangzhou. H. pylori infection was checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2003, the overall prevalence rate of H. pylori infection was 47% with no gender difference (p > .05). Children aged 1-5 years had the prevalence rate of 19.4%. The prevalence rate then increased steadily with annual infection rate of approximately 1% after this age, reaching a plateau of approximately 55% after the age of 50 years. The peak seroprevalence rate was 63.2% at 40-50 years. Comparing the prevalence rate of H. pylori infection in 2003 with data obtained in 1993, statistically significant decrease of H. pylori infection rate ranged from 11.4 to 18.0% in different age groups was found. The overall age-standardized H. pylori seroprevalence rate was 62.5% in 1993 and 49.3% in 2003. The seroprevalence of H. pylori was found to be significantly decreased over a time span of 10 years (p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection has significantly decreased during the 10-year period in Guangzhou. This change may be attributable to the improvement in socioeconomic conditions in this city.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Qi Yi
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pin Jin
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Min Hu
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors