Clinical Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1996. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 15, 1996; 2(3): 146-148
Published online Sep 15, 1996. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v2.i3.146
An epidemiologic study of Helicobacter pylori infection in three areas with high, moderate or low incidences of gastric carcinoma
Wan-Dai Zhang, Yan Yu, Guo-Long Liu, Hai-Tao Yang, Dian-Yuan Zhou
Wan-Dai Zhang, Hai-Tao Yang, Dian-Yuan Zhou, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Yan Yu, Bangbu Medical College
Guo-Long Liu, Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital
Wan-Dai Zhang, male, born on August 18, 1930 in Shenyang City of Liaoning Province, graduated from Changchun Medical University. He is the director of the Gastroenterologic Association of Guangdong Province. He has 38 papers and three books on gastroenterology published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Wan-Dai Zhang, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Telephone: +86-20-57705577-3095
Received: September 11, 1995
Revised: July 25, 1996
Accepted: August 14, 1996
Published online: September 15, 1996
Abstract

AIM: To study the relationship between the Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection rate and the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer.

METHODS: The Hp infection rates of the natural population in three areas were detected by measuring the specific IgG antibody to Hp using the indirect ELISA method.

RESULTS: The Hp positive rates were 59.4%, 55.9% and 34.5% in the areas with high, moderate and low incidences of gastric carcinoma, respectively. The differences in incidence among the areas were significant (χ2 = 25.029, P < 0.05). The Hp infection rate was the highest in the high incidence area of gastric cancer in people younger than 40 years. The Hp infection rate was 50% in children younger than 5 years in the high incidence area. The Hp infection rates were not different among the three areas in the people older than 40 years. The average levels of anti-Hp IgG in the high, moderate and low incidence areas were 2.3 ± 0.49, 2.04 ± 0.47 and 1.84 ± 0.46, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the Hp infection was related to bad hygienic habits, low income, frequent use of antibiotics, and mental depression. Univariate analysis showed that Hp infection might also be associated with raising animals in the home.

CONCLUSION: Gastric cancer is closely related to the incidence of Hp infection.

Keywords: Stomach neoplasms/etiology, Helicobacter infections/epidemiology