title: Socioeconomic status, personal habits, and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the inhabitants of Lanyu.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lanyu Island is a closed environment inhabited by the Yami people, Taiwan's smallest and most primitive tribe. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection among Lanyu Island residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among the inhabitants of Lanyu Island, using the (13)C urea breath test to determine the prevalence of H. pylori. All study participants completed a form requesting demographic data and anthropometric measurements and a questionnaire evaluating socioeconomic characteristics and personal habits. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent factors of H. pylori infections, and a two-sided p < 0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 796 participants, the mean age was 45 ± 13.2 years, with a range of 12-89 years. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 72.1%, and there was no significant difference between genders. The H. pylori-infected group contained higher proportions of Yami people, married individuals, as well as higher rates of alcohol consumption and betel chewing, but lower family incomes and education levels. Multiple logistic models found that Yami ethnicity [odds ratio (OR) = 2.567, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.344-4.905], alcohol consumption (OR = 1.641, 95% CI: 1.151-2.341), and marital status (OR = 1.779, 95% CI: 1.043-3.032] were associated with H. pylori infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cross-sectional study identified a high prevalence of H. pylori infection on Lanyu Island. When investigating H. pylori infection status in a closed environment, such as Lanyu Island, it is important to consider all factors relating to the host population, including environment and lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huan-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Jen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shou-Chuan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Horng-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Tsung
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch, Taitung, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung, Taiwan. Electronic address: a5963@ttms.mmh.org.tw.
authors.forename: Ming-Jong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; breath tests; epidemiology; risk factors; stomach neoplasms