Epidemiological investigation of Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly people in Beijing

Hong-Ming Zhu; Bang-Yi Li; Zhe Tang; Jing She; Xue-Ying Liang; Li-Kou Dong; Mei Zhang

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v8.i11.2173

Epidemiological investigation of Helicobacter pylori infection in elderly people in Beijing

World J Clin Cases. 2020 Jun 6;8(11):2173-2180. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i11.2173.

Authors

Hong-Ming Zhu¹, Bang-Yi Li¹, Zhe Tang², Jing She¹, Xue-Ying Liang¹, Li-Kou Dong¹, Mei Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
² National Geriatric Disease Clinical Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing 100053, China.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China. zhang2955@sina.com.

Abstract

Background: The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection rate in China is approximately 50%. H. pylori is a pathogenic factor of peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis. In addition, H. pylori infection may also be associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases in elderly people, such as arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and cerebral infarction, having deleterious effect on their health. With the aging of the population, the disease characteristics of the elderly population have been increasingly valued by the whole society. We conducted an epidemiological survey of H. pylori infection among elderly people in Beijing to provide a basis for health management of H. pylori infection.

Aim: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of H. pylori infection in elderly people in Beijing.

Methods: A total of 1090 elderly people aged more than 60 years from different parts of Beijing (urban and rural areas) were selected using the random cluster sampling method. Structured questionnaires were completed during home visits and the ¹³C-urea breath test was conducted for H. pylori detection.

Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 46.5% (507/1090). The infection rate in men was 51.8%, which was significantly higher than that in women (42.5%; P < 0.05). The H. pylori infection rate in illiterate people was significantly higher than that in literate persons (53.5% vs 44.8%, P < 0.05). The total infection rate of H. pylori gradually increased with age and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The H. pylori infection rate in smokers was significantly higher than that in non-smokers and those who had quit smoking (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection among elderly people is 46.5% and the infection rate gradually increases with age. Sex, education level, age, and smoking were determined to be H. pylori infection risk factors. The relationship of H. pylori infection with region, occupation, drinking, and diet structure needs to be further studied.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; 13C-urea breath test; Characteristics; Elderly persons; Epidemiologic; Prevalence.