Open AccessPrevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among patients referred for endoscopy: Gender and ethnic differences in Kedah, Malaysia
Author(s) -
Sreenivasan Sasidharan,
Batumanathan Ghayethry,
Manickam Ravichandran,
Lachimanan Yoga Latha,
Subaramanion Jothy Lachumy,
Khoo Miew Leng,
Surya Gegu Surasa Rao
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of tropical disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.208
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 2222-1808
DOI - 10.1016/s2222-1808(12)60013-9
Subject(s) - medicine , malay , helicobacter pylori , ethnic group , epidemiology , demography , helicobacter pylori infection , population , prevalence , gastroenterology , environmental health , sociology , anthropology , philosophy , linguistics
Objective: To study the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, according\udto ethnicity and gender among the people of Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia who undergo\udendoscopy. Methods: To study the epidemiology of H. pylori infection in Kedah, Malaysia\udpopulation, we assessed the database of hospital admissions of the patients referred to the\udEndoscopy Unit at Sungai Petani Hospital for oesophagogastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) between\udJanuary 2000 and December 2007. For statistical analysis, the Fisher’s exact test (2- tailed test)\udwas used. H. pylori infection rate was determined in 1 965 consecutive patients. Results: Out\udof 1 965 patients, 597 (30.4%) were positive and 1368 (69.6%) were negative for H. pylori infections.\udGenerally, the prevalence rate among males (51.9%; 398/767) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than\udfor females (33.1%; 199/601). In terms of ethnics, the overall prevalence showed H. pylori infection\udwas commonly found among Indians and Chinese with prevalence rate of 35.6% (194/545) and 28.6%\ud(100/350) respectively. These figures are significantly higher (P< 0.05) than the 28.5% (300/1051)\udfor Malays. The prevalence rates for Malay males was lower (P<0.05) than those of Chinese and\udIndians. Conclusions: In conclusion, there is a significant difference in H. pylori infection\udprevalence rates among ethnic groups (highest in Indians, then Chinese and unusually low in\udMalays) and gender groups (highest in males) in Kedah, Malaysia