Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori in Australia: a scoping review

Jillian Congedi; Craig Williams; Katherine L Baldock

doi:10.7717/peerj.13430

Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori in Australia: a scoping review

PeerJ. 2022 May 31:10:e13430. doi: 10.7717/peerj.13430. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Jillian Congedi¹, Craig Williams², Katherine L Baldock¹

Affiliations

¹ UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
² UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium implicated in the development of peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, is estimated to infect around half the world's population. Its prevalence in Australia is unclear. This scoping review aimed to evaluate all Australian literature providing estimates of the prevalence of H. pylori.

Methods: Australian studies examining H. pylori prevalence from 1982 onwards were eligible for inclusion. Medline, Embase and Scopus databases, and grey literature sources, were searched. Two independent reviewers undertook a two-stage screening process. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers using a pre-specified template.

Results: Of 444 identified studies, 75 were included in the review. H. pylori prevalence in Australian population-based studies (n = 8) ranged from 38.0% in 1991 to 15.1% in 2002; however, estimated prevalence across all non-clinical population studies in diverse sub-groups (n = 29) has varied dramatically. Decreased prevalence has been more marked in populations with gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions compared to non-clinical populations. Data on H. pyloriprevalence in vulnerable populations are lacking.

Conclusions: This is the first scoping review of Australian studies reporting H. pylori prevalence. A wide range of study designs, population groups, geographic regions, and diagnostic methods was included, involving data collected over a 50-year period (1969 to 2018). The summary of H. pylori prevalence estimates over time in this review points to a decrease in prevalence in Australia, particularly among populations with gastrointestinal symptoms and illnesses; however, it is unknown whether there is inequity in prevalence trends across vulnerable sub-groups of the Australian population. Future research and interventions supporting the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations is required to ensure equitable health gains are made for all.

Keywords: Australia; Epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Prevalence; Scoping review.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia / epidemiology
Helicobacter Infections* / epidemiology
Helicobacter pylori*
Humans
Peptic Ulcer* / epidemiology
Stomach Neoplasms* / microbiology

Grants and funding

Jillian Congedi was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (RTP). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.