Bl. Smoak et al., SEROPREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTIONS IN A COHORT OF US ARMY RECRUITS, American journal of epidemiology, 139(5), 1994, pp. 513-519
To study the prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infect
ion in healthy young adults, sera were collected from a nationwide sam
ple of 404 females and 534 males (mean age, 20.2; range, 17-26 years)
at induction into the US Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, during
the fall of 1990. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PYLORI STAT, B
ioWhittaker, Inc., Walkersville, MD) was used to detect H. pylori-spec
ific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Demographic data were obtained from
a personnel database and by linking US census information to the subje
ct's home address. The observed crude seropositivity rate was 26.3% (9
5% confidence interval 23.2-28.9). The direct sex-, race-, and geograp
hic region-adjusted seropositivity rate was 20.8% (95% confidence inte
rval 17.9-23.7). Seropositivity rates for blacks, Hispanics, and white
s were 44%, 38%, and 14%, respectively, (chi(2), p < 0.001), and rates
increased progressively from 24% in the age group 17-18 years to 43%
in the age group 24-26 years (chi(2) for trend, p < 0.001). The age tr
ends remained strong after controlling for race Median income was also
an important predictive variable for seropositivity (chi(2) p < 0.000
1). Sex, the percent urbanization, and population density of the home
county were not significant predictors of seropositivity when age and
race-ethnic group were controlled in a statistical model. The sharp in
crease in seroprevalence in this narrow age range suggests that the in
cidence rates are higher in young adults than previously reported.