PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN DIFFERENT ETHNIC-GROUPS IN NEW-ZEALAND CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor for p eptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. A study of patients with dyspe psia attending for gastroscopy showed significant differences in H.pyl ori seropositivity between ethnic groups. Aims: To determine the preva lence of H.pylori in children and adults in the community in different ethnic groups and to identify risk factors for infection.Methods: Ser um samples (324) were randomly selected from a cross-sectional survey of 11-12 year old school children with a high proportion of Maori and Pacific Island groups. Serum samples (579) were randomly selected from a cross-sectional workforce survey of 5677 participants aged 40-64 ye ars. Serum samples were tested for H.pylori IgG. Results: The percenta ge seropositivity in 11-12 year old children was European 7%, Maori/pa rt Maori 21%, all Pacific Island groups 48% and for the workforce surv ey 35.8%, 57.4% and 73.2% respectively. Compared with Europeans the in creased relative risk of seropositivity for H.pylori in Maori and Paci fic Island participants was significant after adjusting for age and so cio-economic status (1.43 [1.13, 1.80] and 1.76 [1.43, 2.18]) respecti vely. The relative risk of H.pylori infection significantly increased with age, lower socio-economic status and lower household income, but was not significantly associated with gender, alcohol or cigarette use . Conclusions: The high seroprevalence of H.pylori in Maori and Pacifi c Island groups is consistent with the differences in incidence of gas tric cancer. H.pylori continues to be a common infection in Maori and Pacific Island school children. Ethnicity appears to be a risk factor for H.pylori independent of socio-economic status.