Abstract
Recent data suggest that the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in Romania has been declining in the last 30 years. However, there are no studies regarding HP prevalence among medical students. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of HP infection and assess the prevalence of dyspepsia in medical students and the relationship between dyspepsia and infection. We included 150 students from the Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Cluj-Napoca, Romania (102 females and 48 males, mean age 21 years). Each student completed a lifestyle questionnaire, personal history, family history as well as the Rome IV questionnaire for functional dyspepsia. The status of HP infection was determined using the C13-urea respiratory test. The prevalence of HP infection was 25.33%, and 18% met the Rome IV criteria for functional dyspepsia. 37% of students with functional dyspepsia had a positive HP test. Of all students, 8% had a history of HP infection. Those with a history of HP infection had a 4.45% (95% CI 1.6 – 12.37) higher risk of having positive Rome IV criteria for functional dyspepsia than those with no previous history of infection (p=0.008). Thus, the present study adds to the body of evidence regarding HP prevalence among medical students, 25.33% being positive. We found no statistically significant correlation between HP infection and functional dyspepsia. Those with a history of HP infection had a higher risk of functional dyspepsia.
Highlights
Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is one of the world’s most common infections [1] with many routes of transmission: direct contact between subjects [2], contaminated water, sources or food [3,4,5], zoonotic transmission, and iatrogenic transmission during endoscopies and dental care [6].In 2019, a review that summarizes recent publications on the epidemiology of HP was published [7]
In Ethiopia, a high overall pooled HP prevalence was identified (52.2%), a trend of decreasing incidence has been observed over time
The results of a study from South America conducted in 2014 revealed a prevalence of functional dyspepsia of 24% among 1923 medical students, dyspepsia being related to several behavior variables [14]
Summary
Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is one of the world’s most common infections [1] with many routes of transmission: direct contact between subjects [2], contaminated water, sources or food [3,4,5], zoonotic transmission, and iatrogenic transmission during endoscopies and dental care [6].In 2019, a review that summarizes recent publications on the epidemiology of HP was published [7]. A continuous decrease in HP prevalence was reported from many regions worldwide, including Korea, China, Iran, and Austria. In these countries, the prevalence of the infection ranged between 27.5% in East China and 41% in the United Arab Emirates. In Ethiopia, a high overall pooled HP prevalence was identified (52.2%), a trend of decreasing incidence has been observed over time. This review revealed many risk factors for this infection. There seems to be a higher risk of infection among health professionals, in particular those working in gastrointestinal units and dentistry, and in other professions such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, as well as sewage workers, miners, and workers at institutions for the intellectually disabled
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