Epidemiologic characteristics of Helicobacter Pylori infection in South-East Hungary. A population based study

Introduction: Epidemiologic studies indicate a decrease in prevalence of HP infection in Western Europe. In contrast, little is known about Central Europe, where substantial part of the population still lives outside of cities. Our preliminary results indicated a similar tendency in Hungary, although population based data were not available till now.

The aims of the study were to obtain data on the HP prevalence in Csongrád and Békés County in Hungary, to evaluate the differences between the prevalence of HP infection in people living in large cities, in the countryside and to establish factors associated with positive seroprevalence.

Methods: One-thousand and one healthy blood donor volunteers (M/F: 501/500, mean age: 40 (19 – 65) years) were enrolled. Data collection was carried out by means of a questionnaire. All subjects were tested for HP IgG antibody positivity by enzyme linked immuno assay (ELISA). Subgroup analysis by age, gender, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, urban and non-urban population was also performed.

Results: The actual overall prevalence of HP infection was 32% in the studied healthy subjects. It was higher in males (35 vs. 29%), as well as in rural people (37 vs. 28%). Younger subjects (< 40 years) had similarly low prevalence in all groups. Smokers, agricultural/physical workers were more likely positive than non-smokers (35% vs. 29%) and intellectual workers (58% vs. 35%). Rural subjects in Békés county had significantly higher prevalence rates than in Csongrád county (35% vs. 29%).

Conclusions: Although the overall prevalence of HP infection decreased significantly during the last decades in South-East Hungary, it is still high in middle aged rural population. Generally accepted risk factors for HP positivity seems to be valid for the studied population.

Financial disclosure: The study was supported by the Krka Hungary Kft.