J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2000 Jan;21(1):38-45.

The seroprevalence and related factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in Korean adults

• Sung EJ
• Kim KR
• Kim YS
• Kim MC

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection is associated with peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and lymphoma. The prevalence of H. pylori infection increases with age and the risk factors of transmission are known to be poor socioeconomic status, crowding, sharing a bed in childhood and age. We attempted to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and identify the factors responsible for the different patterns of transmission in healthy Korean adults.
METHODS
The study population was recruited from health promotion center and general health screening center in Seoul Joongang Hospital. We studied the 1,822 healthy 19 to 78-year-old adults from April 1998 to August 1998. IgG H. pylori Ab(ELISA) was measured to determine the infection of H. pylori and questionnaire for environmental information and demographic factor was surveyed.
RESULTS
The mean age of study population was 41.2-year-old. The mean prevalence was 71.9 %. An prevalence of H. pylori infection increased with age(p=0.001). An associated factor was crowding index (no of family using one room) in childhood(p<0.01). The total number of family and the number of family per one room in childhood were associated with H. pylori infection, respectively(p<0.05). Current socioeconomic level, status of smoking and alcohol drinking, current crowding index, and sex were not associated with the infection rate.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence rate of H. pylori infection was 71.8% in Korean adults. The prevalence of H. pylori infection increased with age and crowding index in childhood.

Keyword

Helicobacter pylori; prevalence rate; risk factor

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Aged
Alcohol Drinking
Crowding
Demography
Health Promotion
Helicobacter pylori*
Helicobacter*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Lymphoma
Mass Screening
Peptic Ulcer
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Seoul
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
Smoke
Smoking
Social Class
Stomach Diseases
Surveys and Questionnaires
Immunoglobulin G
Smoke