Epidemiology of H. pylori and its relation with gastrointestinal disorders, a community-based study in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Helicobacter pylori infection is common worldwide and its prevalence is higher in the developing countries. Earlier studies in using urea breath test showed a high prevalence (67%) of H. pylori in early childhood in Bangladesh. Data on H. pylori prevalence using bacterial culture is limited in Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori in Bangladeshi subjects using bacterial culture. We also determined the prevalence of infection among different age groups and find out the correlation between the prevalence of H. pylori and the related sociodemographic parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected households from a peri-urban community in Dhaka, Bangladesh to get an idea about H. pylori status in the lower socioeconomic area. Sociodemographic and clinical information and stool specimen for screening H. pylori infection by stool antigen test were collected. Gastric biopsy was collected for culture from those positive in stool antigen test. A total of 287 subjects were screened by stool antigen test, of them, 92.7% were positive for stool antigen test. Of 259 stool antigen positive sample, 59.1% (n=153) were H. pylori culture positive. Our data suggest that H. pylori infection is significantly associated with age and smoking habit (P value <0.05). In addition, dyspeptic symptoms are significantly higher in H. pylori culture positive subjects than the H. pylori culture negative subjects. Endoscopic examination suggests that the gastroesophageal pathologies are significantly associated (P value <0.05) and duodenal pathologies are moderately associated (P value 0.059) with H. pylori infection. So, H. pylori culture test is auspicating the significant colonization that might lead to pathological outcomes.