BACKGROUND: In contrast to most populations worldwide, the incidence of gastric cancer increases among Inuit in Greenland. Contributing factors to this increase are unknown, but Helicobacter pylori may be involved. However, little is known regarding the epidemiology of H. pylori in Arctic communities. With the aim of determining age-specific prevalence, risk factors, and association with clinical conditions of H. pylori infection, we carried out a population-based study of H. pylori in Sisimiut, the second biggest town of Greenland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based sample of 685 persons had serum drawn that was analyzed for H. pylori IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Risk factors analyses were carried out using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The seroprevalence was lowest among children aged 0-4 years (6%), but increased rapidly thereafter. In persons aged 15-87 years the seroprevalence had stabilized around 58%. Total number of children in household, number of older, but not younger, siblings and narrow age gap to closest older sibling were associated with H. pylori seropositivity. In contrast, number of adults in household and socioeconomic status did not influence serostatus. CONCLUSIONS: The age-specific prevalence pattern in Greenland is intermediate between that of developing and developed countries. The risk factor pattern indicates crowding and older siblings in particular to be key elements in risk of infection.
BACKGROUND: In contrast to most populations worldwide, the incidence of gastric cancer increases among Inuit in Greenland. Contributing factors to this increase are unknown, but Helicobacter pylori may be involved. However, little is known regarding the epidemiology of H. pylori in Arctic communities. With the aim of determining age-specific prevalence, risk factors, and association with clinical conditions of H. pyloriinfection, we carried out a population-based study of H. pylori in Sisimiut, the second biggest town of Greenland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based sample of 685 persons had serum drawn that was analyzed for H. pylori IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Risk factors analyses were carried out using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: The seroprevalence was lowest among children aged 0-4 years (6%), but increased rapidly thereafter. In persons aged 15-87 years the seroprevalence had stabilized around 58%. Total number of children in household, number of older, but not younger, siblings and narrow age gap to closest older sibling were associated with H. pylori seropositivity. In contrast, number of adults in household and socioeconomic status did not influence serostatus. CONCLUSIONS: The age-specific prevalence pattern in Greenland is intermediate between that of developing and developed countries. The risk factor pattern indicates crowding and older siblings in particular to be key elements in risk of infection.
Authors: Bolette Søborg; Aase Bengaard Andersen; Mads Melbye; Jan Wohlfahrt; Mikael Andersson; Robert J Biggar; Karin Ladefoged; Vibeke Ostergaard Thomsen; Anders Koch Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2011-08-24 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Chandheeb Rajakumar; Matthew R Ban; Henian Cao; T Kue Young; Peter Bjerregaard; Robert A Hegele Journal: J Lipid Res Date: 2009-01-29 Impact factor: 5.922
Authors: Sabrina H Tsang; M Larissa Avilés-Santa; Christian C Abnet; Maximo O Brito; Martha L Daviglus; Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller; Sheila F Castañeda; Sharon Minnerath; Gregory A Talavera; Barry I Graubard; Bharat Thyagarajan; M Constanza Camargo Journal: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2021-03-02 Impact factor: 11.382
Authors: B J McMahon; M G Bruce; A Koch; K J Goodman; V Tsukanov; G Mulvad; M L Borresen; F Sacco; D Barrett; S Westby; A J Parkinson Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2015-06-22 Impact factor: 2.451