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Age as Risk Factor for H elicobacter pylori Recurrence in Children in V ietnam
Author(s) -
Nguyen Thi Viet Ha,
Bengtsson Carina,
Nguyen Gia Khanh,
Yin Li,
Hoang Thi Thu Ha,
Phung Dac Cam,
Sörberg Mikael,
Granström Marta
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
helicobacter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1523-5378
pISSN - 1083-4389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2012.00968.x
Subject(s) - medicine , helicobacter pylori , hazard ratio , risk factor , helicobacter pylori infection , prospective cohort study , longitudinal study , demography , pediatrics , confidence interval , sociology , pathology
Background The determinants for acquisition of H elicobacter pylori infection remain incompletely understood. The study aim was to investigate risk factors for recurrence in children in V ietnam during 1 year immediately following successful H . pylori eradication. Materials and methods In a prospective longitudinal study, 136 children, 3–15 years of age, were seen every 3 months for a total of four visits. H elicobacter pylori infection status was determined by an antigen‐in‐stool test ( P remier P latinum H p SA PLUS ) on samples obtained at each visit. A questionnaire was filled out at the start of the study. Results After 1 year, 30 children had become H . pylori positive, while 17 were lost to follow‐up. Low age was the most prominent independent risk factor for recurrence: adjusted hazard ratio ( HR ) among children aged 3–4, 5–6, and 7–8 years, relative to those aged 9–15 years, were, respectively, 14.3 [95% CI 3.8–53.7], 5.4 [1.8–16.3] and 2.6 [0.7–10.4]. Surprisingly, female sex tended to be associated with increased risk (adjusted HR among girls relative to boys 2.5 [95% CI 1.1–5.9]). No other factors such as sibship size, birth order, bed sharing, sanitary standards, or factual antibiotic dose per kilo bodyweight in the eradication trial were found to be significant risk factors for re‐infection. Conclusions The main risk factor for recurrence with H . pylori was found to be age, with the youngest children running the greatest risk. The finding lends support to the observation that early childhood may be the main age of acquisition of H . pylori infection and for postponing attempts of eradication in high‐prevalence areas unless motivated for medical reasons.