Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in South Korea.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori-associated gastrointestinal diseases have been widely recognized. The aims of this study were to investigate the interval change of seropositivity of H. pylori between 1998 and 2005 in Korean adult population and to find the factors related to H. pylori infection.


METHODS
Between January and December of 2005, a total of 15,916 health check-up subjects (aged > or = 16 years) from all parts of South Korea responded to the questionnaire, and the prevalence of H. pylori was investigated by measuring anti-H pylori IgG antibodies. The seropositivity in asymptomatic subjects (aged > or = 16 years) was compared with that of 1998, which was surveyed by the Korean H. pylori Study Group.


RESULTS
The overall seropositivity rate (aged > or = 16 years) was 56.0%, and 13.9% of seropositive subjects were found to have a history of H. pylori eradication therapy. With the exclusion of subjects who had a history of H. pylori eradication and current gastrointestinal symptoms, the seropositivity rate of H. pylori became 59.6% in 8020 subjects. Seroprevalence of H. pylori was significantly higher in subjects aged 50-59 years, males, low income group, and subjects from provinces. The seroprevalence in 2005 (59.6%) significantly decreased compared with that of 1998 (66.9%), and the decrease was significant in subjects aged < 70 years, Seoul and Gyeonggi province (which is close to Seoul).


CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalence of H. pylori in asymptomatic health check-up adult subjects in 2005 decreased to 59.6% from 66.9% in 1998, probably as a result of the improvement of socioeconomic status and hygiene.
Yim
Jeong Yoon
JY
Healthcare System GangNam Center, Healthcare Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Nayoung
N
Choi
Seung Ho
SH
Kim
Young Sun
YS
Cho
Kyung Ran
KR
Kim
Sun Sin
SS
Seo
Geom Seog
GS
Kim
Heung Up
HU
Baik
Gwang Ho
GH
Sin
Chan Soo
CS
Cho
Sang Heon
SH
Oh
Byung Hee
BH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G