Helicobacter pylori infection in Canadian and related Arctic Aboriginal populations.
In 2006, the Canadian Helicobacter Study Group identified Aboriginal communities among Canadian population groups most at risk of Helicobacter pylori-associated disease. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize what is known about the H pylori-associated disease burden in Canadian and related Arctic Aboriginal populations to identify gaps in knowledge. Six health literature databases were systematically searched to identify reports on H pylori prevalence in Canadian population groups, or any topic related to H pylori in Canadian Aboriginals, Alaska Natives or Aboriginals of other Arctic regions. Identified reports were organized by subtopic and summarized in narrative form. Key data from studies of H pylori prevalence in defined populations were summarized in tabular form. A few Arctic Aboriginal communities were represented in the literature: two Canadian Inuit; one Canadian First Nation; two Greenland Inuit; one Russian Chutkotka Native; and several Alaska Native studies. These studies uniformly showed elevated H pylori prevalence; a few studies also showed elevated occurrence of H pylori-related diseases and high rates of treatment failure. Based on the evidence, it would be warranted for clinicians to relax the criteria for investigating H pylori and related diseases in patients from Arctic Aboriginal communities, and to pursue post-therapy confirmation of eradication. Additional community-based research is needed to develop public health policies for reducing H pylori-associated health risks in such communities.
Goodman
K J
KJ
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. karen.goodman@ualberta.ca
Jacobson
K
K
Veldhuyzen van Zanten
S
S
D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D015873:Northwest Territories / Q000453:epidemiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology