Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori among multiracial community in Northern Peninsular, Malaysia: effect of age across race and gender

ObjectiveTo study the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection according to age group.MethodsH. pylori infection data among 1 965 consecutive patients referred to the Endoscopy Unit collected at Sungai Petani Hospital for oesophagogastro-duodenoscopy (OGD). The patients were divided into 9 age groups (10–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89 and 90–99 years). In addition these groups were further divided into three minor group namely young adults (10–39), older adults (40–69) and geriatric groups (70–99).ResultsOverall prevalence of infection of H. pylori was analyzed and found that the prevalence increase with age (P<0.05). When the patients divided by ethnic and gender group with age, prevalence rate among young adults and older adults significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to geriatric groups across all races and gender (P<0.05). Furthermore, significantly higher number of males were infected compared to female (P<0.05) but such trend was only observed among older adult groups. In addition, there is a significant differences in H. pylori infection prevalence rates among ethnic groups (highest in Indians adults, followed Chinese and low in Malays, P<0.05).ConclusionsThe overall prevalence of H. pylori did increase with age group across ethnicity and gender, in Northern Peninsular Malaysia.