Lower Education Status Predicts Higher Seropositivity for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Pakistan

Abstract

Aims: We intended to report H. pylori seroprevalence and identify socio-demographic risk factors in dyspeptic patients and non-dyspeptic control subjects of Islamabad, Pakistan. Methodology: Subjects were analyzed in two study groups; Dyspeptic patients on the basis of Rome III criteria (n=196) and non-dyspeptic control subjects (n=118). H. pylori status was determined using a commercial ELISA kit and its association was determined with risk factors such as age, sex, body mass index, marital status, educational level, residence, income group, use of NSAIDs and tobacco. Results: Our results showed similar seroprevalence of about 53% in both the groups. Low education (p=.03) and lower socioeconomic status (p=.03) were significant predictors of H. pylori seropositivity in dyspeptic patients whereas increasing age (p<.001), lower education (p =.04) and married status (p=.02) were significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity in non-dyspeptic controls. Conclusions: Lower education and low socioeconomic status are significant risk factors in dyspeptic patients as compared to old age, lower education and married subjects in non-dyspeptic control subjects.