Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in urban and rural Vietnam

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases, such as peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, are common in Vietnam, but the prevalence of the infection is largely unknown. A validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for seroepidemiology with 971 samples from the general population, ages 0 to 88 years, with 546 samples from an urban population (Hanoi), and with 425 samples from a poor, rural province (Hatay). The overall seroprevalence of the infection was 746 per 1,000, with a prevalence of 788 per 1,000 in Hanoi and 692 per 1,000 in Hatay (P=0.0007). The risk for infection in the rural area of Hatay was 40% lower than in the urban population of Hanoi, with the odds ratio being 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.81). The study shows that the prevalence of H. pylori infection is high in Vietnam and especially high in a large urban area, such as the city of Hanoi.

FIG. 1.

Seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in Vietnam. The dotted line gives the exact percentage of seropositives in each age group, and the smooth line represents the polynomial trend line of the third order.

FIG. 2.

Seroprevalences of H. pylori infection in urban (Hanoi) and rural (Hatay) regions of Vietnam. Exact percentages and polynomial trend lines of the third order are shown.