Abstract
AIM: To study possible decrease in prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in the Czech Republic within a 10-year period. METHODS: A total of 22 centres entered the study.
The catchment areas of these centres covered cities and towns with more than 20,000 inhabitants, smaller towns (LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 20,000 inhabitants) with surrounding villages and rural areas, and were spread over the whole country, corresponding well to the geographical distribution of the Czech population. A total of 1,837 subjects (aged 5-98 years) took part in the study, randomly selected out of 38,147 people from the general population.
Hp infection was investigated by means of a 13C-urea breath test. Breath samples in duplicates were analysed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
The cut-off point was 3.5. Social and demographic characteristics were based on data from self-completed questionnaires.
RESULTS: Results of 13C-urea breath test for Hp status were obtained for 99.4% (1,826/1,837) of subjects. The overall prevalence of Hp infection was 23.5% (430/1826), and 4.8% (20/420) in children below the age of 15.
There was no difference in prevalence between males (24.3%; 208/857) and females (22.9%; 222/969; p=0.494). Hp infection was associated with higher age and lower education.
The current prevalence of Hp in 2011 was significantly lower compared to the prevalence of identical geographical areas in 2001 (23.5% vs 41.7%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of Hp infection in the general population has fallen substantially in the Czech Republic over the past 10 years.