Abstract
BackgroundAlmost half the world’s population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with the highest reported prevalence from Africa. This infection is associated with several morbid gastrointestinal conditions. Understanding the trends in seroprevalence and the factors associated with H. pylori seropositivity in dyspeptic persons can provide a guide for public health policies.MethodsThis was a retrospective study, carried out with outpatient records of Wum District Hospital (WDH) from January 2012 to December 2016. We reviewed records of all patients for whom a H. pylori serology test was requested. The Cochran-Armitage trend test and multiple regression models were used to explore seroprevalence trends and predictors of seropositivity respectively.ResultsWe included 451 records, 63.6% (n = 287) were female. The mean age of the study population was 40.7 years, and the overall H. pylori seroprevalence was 51.5% (95% CI: 47–56%). The use of recommended eradication regimen appears to be low and declining. On average, H. pylori seroprevalence declined by 6.8% annually (p < 0.0001). Occupational status independently predicted seropositivity, with students having lower odds of being seropositive than employed persons (aOR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02–0.49, p = 0.016).ConclusionDespite decreasing trends, the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is high in dyspeptic patients attending this primary care setting. Improving living standards and establishing national guidelines for eradication can possibly aid the control of this infection.
Highlights
Almost half the world’s population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with the highest reported prevalence from Africa
H. pylori seroprevalence and trend over the years Overall, 51.5% of the study participants were H. pylori seropositive
This study aimed at describing the trends in seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, and to identify factors associated with seropositivity in dyspeptic patients attending a primary care hospital in Cameroon
Summary
Almost half the world’s population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with the highest reported prevalence from Africa. This infection is associated with several morbid gastrointestinal conditions. The sensitivity of serological tests for detecting H. pylori active infection has been found to range from 50 to 100% and specificity of 30 to 100% [9, 10]. They are considered reliable predictors of the presence of infection in high prevalence settings [11]. Inexpensive and affordable, they give a good idea of the burden of the infection in the population, especially in low-income settings known to carry the greatest infection rates
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