HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE : THE IMPORTANCE OF SMOKING AND ETHNICITY

• Published in: Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 1102 - 1110
• Main Authors: PILLAY, K. V. K, HTUN, M, NAING, N. N, NORSA'ADAH, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangkok Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network 01.11.2007; Central Coordinating Board, SEAMEO-TROPMED Project
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; General aspects; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter Infections - ethnology; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Logistic Models; Malaysia - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Peptic Ulcer - ethnology; Peptic Ulcer - microbiology; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Smoking - ethnology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Malaysia; Ethnic origin; Spirillales; Disease; Tobacco smoking; Spirillaceae; Peptic ulcer; Ethnic group; Infection; Gastroduodenal; Tobacco; Helicobacter pylori; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Tropical medicine; Gastric disease
• ISSN: 0125-1562

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and its associated factors among patients with peptic ulcer disease in Taiping Hospital. Consecutive peptic ulcer disease patients who had undergone esophagogastro-duodenoscopy were included. The H. pylori status was assessed by the rapid urease test. We excluded those who had active bleeding, a perforated peptic ulcer, severe vomiting, a history of gastric surgery, peptic ulcer disease or renal or liver diseases, carcinoma of the stomach, and recent use of antibiotics or proton pump inhibitors. Socio-demography, H. pylori status, medication history and other relevant clinical data were collected from case notes. A total of 416 subjects were selected, 49.7% were positive and 50.3% were negative for H. pylori infection. There were significant associations between H. pylori and age, ethnicity, smoking status and NSAID usage. However, there were no significant relationships between H. pylori status and gender or type of peptic ulcer. Multiple logistic regression showed that other ethnicities than Malays and smokers had a higher risk of H. pylori. Our prevalence rate was low and the identified risk factors were consistent with previous studies. Ethnic differences may be related to genetic and sociocultural behaviors. Quitting smoking may benefit peptic ulcer patients with H. pylori infection.