Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infections among patients referred for endoscopy at Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection according to age, gender, ethnicity, and endoscopic finding and to study the association between smoking and alcohol consumption with H. pylori infection. MethodsA retrospective observational study on 582 consecutive patients referred for endoscopy with H. pylori tested was conducted in Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim from 1st of January 2013 till 31st of December 2013. Data were analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square, Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression with SPSS version 16. ResultsOut of the 582 patients, 74 (12.7%) were positive for H. pylori infection. Among those with H. pylori infection, 42 (56.8%) were female. Infection was highest in the age group of 51 to 60 years old, 25 (33.8%) with the mean (SD) age of 52.9 (14.9) years. From the endoscopic finding, erosions, 38 (51.4%) had the highest H. pylori positive cases. H. pylori infection was commonly found among Indians (36.3%; 41/113) followed by Chinese (17.6%, 18/102) and Malays (4.1%; 15/367) (P < 0.001). There is no significant association between smoking and alcohol consumption with H. pylori infection (P > 0.05). ConclusionsThe increased risk of H. pylori infection in Indians might be due to the unusual socio-cultural practices and difference in diet which may be responsible for the transmission of the infection. Therefore, further studies are warranted.