HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN ASYMPTOMATIC ELDERLY SUBJECTS LIVINGAT HOME OR IN A NURSING-HOME - EFFECTS ON GASTRIC FUNCTION AND NUTRITIONAL-STATUS

Age and close living conditions are known to be risk factors for the a cquisition of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. It is unknown whethe r institutionalization of asymptomatic, elderly subjects is an additio nal risk factor and whether gastric function and nutritional status ar e affected by the HP infection. The study sample comprised 102 subject s over 65 years of age: 52 living in a nursing home and 50 at home. No subject had symptoms or previous pathology related to the upper diges tive tract. Tn all subjects, serum levels of specific anti-HP antibodi es were determined. Gastric function was evaluated by levels of pepsin ogen A (PGA), pepsinogen C (PGC) and gastrin. The nutritional status o f the subject was evaluated by measuring: albumin, haemoglobin, iron, ferritin, transferrin, vitamin B-12, and folic acid in blood, and body mass index and mid-arm muscle area. The prevalence of anti-HP antibod ies was 86.5% in institutionalized subjects (men: 100%; women: 76.6%, p < 0.05) and 82.0% in subjects living at home (men: 86.3%; women: 76. 3%). No differences between the two groups were observed in levels of serum anti-HP antibodies, PGA, PGC or gastrin. In institutionalized su bjects, a significant correlation between anti-HP antibodies and PGC w as identified. In neither group were differences observed between seru m positive (HP + ve) and negative (HP - ve) subjects with respect to t he biohumoral and anthropometric indices of nutritional status. We con clude: (1) the seroprevalence of the HP infection was high (82-86%) in asymptomatic elderly patients living either at home or in an institut ion; (2) the presence of specific IgG anti-HP antibodies in asymptomat ic elderly individuals, at home or in a nursing home, was not associat ed with changes in PGA, PGC or gastrin; however, there was a correlati on between anti-HP antibody titre and PGC levels in institutionalized subjects; (3) nutritional indices were not influenced by the presence of anti-HP antibodies.