Migrant communities constitute a possible target population for primary prevention of Helicobacter pylori-related complications in low incidence countries.
OBJECTIVE
Pre-selection of individuals with epidemiological risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection and atrophic gastritis could increase the efficiency of serologic screening to prevent peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer in Western countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis in a migrant community in The Netherlands.


METHODS
Inhabitants from an urban district in Rotterdam, The Netherlands with a large proportion of immigrants were randomly selected. Information was collected on demographic factors, socio-economic status, lifestyle, history of dyspeptic symptoms and medication use. In addition, serologic H. pylori and CagA status and the presence of atrophic gastritis were evaluated.


RESULTS
In total, 288 subjects were included. Surinamese or Antillean, Turkish, Cape Verdian and Moroccan subjects were H. pylori-infected in 65%, 82%, 86% and 96% of cases, respectively, whereas the infection rate in Dutch subjects was 46% (all p<0.05). Within multivariate logistic regression analysis, ethnicity and number of persons in a household were identified as independent risk factors for H. pylori infection. In addition, mean pepsinogen I level and pepsinogen I/II ratio were significantly lower in subjects of non-Dutch origin as compared to Dutch subjects (both p<0.001). No Dutch subjects suffered from atrophic gastritis, as compared with 12 subjects of non-Dutch origin (p=0.13).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of H. pylori is high in migrant populations in The Netherlands. Furthermore, markers of atrophic gastritis are increased in subjects of foreign origin. Therefore, these migrant communities may constitute a target group for serologic screening to prevent H. pylori-related complications in Western countries.
De Vries
Annemarie C
AC
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands. A.C.deVries@erasmusmc.nl
Van Driel
Harold F
HF
Richardus
Jan H
JH
Ouwendijk
Martine
M
Van Vuuren
Adriana J
AJ
De Man
Rob A
RA
Kuipers
Ernst J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000097:blood; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D020116:Pepsinogen A / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D020116:Pepsinogen A