Review: Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

This review summarizes recent publications on the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori. Two major systemic analyses, from Malaysia and Ethiopia, were published. The Brazilian Consensus Conference has stated that H pylori infection is an infectious disease with an indication for antimicrobial therapy. A continuous decrease in H pylori prevalence was reported from many regions worldwide, including Korea, China, Iran, and Austria. A cross‐sectional H pylori prevalence study conducted in the United Arab Emirates found 41% prevalence in a group of healthy children and adults. Several studies from Asia addressed H pylori prevalence in adults undergoing regular checkup. The largest of such studies, performed in Korea, involved 24 471 subjects and reported 41.5% seroprevalence. A relatively smaller study from East China on 3252 subjects reported 27.5% prevalence. In contrast, a study from Spain reported 87.2% seroprevalence. A report on the association between smoking and H pylori seropositivity was published on behalf of the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project—a consortium of epidemiological studies of gastric cancer. Also, other potential risk factors, including occupational risk factors, water supply, and food were analyzed. Gastroesophageal reflux and sexual partners has been associated with a higher risk for H pylori acquisition, and gut microbiota was suggested to play a role in intrafamilial transmission of H pylori. Finally, in a few studies (from Mexico and Japan), the catalytic model for predicting the potential risk of acquiring H pylori infection in the future was used. As anticipated, a further decline in H pylori‐related disease was demonstrated by applying the modeling.

Consensus on eradication of Helicobacter pylori and prevention and control of gastric cancer in China (2019, Shanghai)

“…13 H. pylori can be spread from person to person, mainly through the mouth. 14 H. pylori infection is the most important environmental factor in the occurrence of gastric cancer. According to the Chinese National Cancer Registry, the incidence of gastric cancer in 2015 ranked second among all malignant tumors, including 679 100 new cases and 498 000 deaths.…”

Limited effectiveness with a 10‐day bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy (Pylera®) in third‐line recue treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection. A real‐life multicenter study

“…Spain has elevated clarithromycin (18%-34%), levofloxacin (15%-20%), and metronidazole (41%) resistance rates 7 such that we would predict similar results in populations with comparable antibiotic resistance profiles. (2) The study was underpowered to detect predictors of eradication. (3) Our lack of antibiotic testing could be viewed as a weakness.…”

“…Helicobacter pylori infection is a global health problem affecting more than a half of the world population. 1,2 It is a well-established cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, MALT lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma, and its eradication cures or prevents most of these diseases. 3 During the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, clarithromycin-based triple therapy and levofloxacin regimens achieved high eradication rates in most countries.…”

Planning mass eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection for indigenous Taiwanese peoples to reduce gastric cancer

“…2 Exposure to more risk factors from social habits, lifestyle, and Helicobacter pylori infection has been considered the cause. [3][4][5] However, even though gastric cancer has been repeatedly shown to be preventable by eliminating risk factors, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] such policies are rarely designed for Indigenous peoples. Possible obstacles may include the lack of Indigenous health statistics, inadequate access to care, difficulty in modifying social habits and lifestyles, and the presence of environmental and cultural barriers.…”