Prevalence and associated risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in community households in Lanzhou city

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection exhibits a familial clustering phenomenon.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection, identify associated factors, and analyze patterns of transmission within families residing in the community.

Methods: From July 2021 to September 2021, a total of 191 families (519 people) in two randomly chosen community health service centers in the Chengguan District of Lanzhou in Gansu Province, were recruited to fill out questionnaires and tested for H. pylori infection. Individuals were followed up again from April 2023 and June 2023 to test for H. pylori infection. The relationship between variables and H. pylori infection was analyzed using logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models.

Results: In 2021, the individual-based H. pylori infection rate was found to be 47.0% (244/519), which decreased to 38.1% (177/464) in 2023. Additionally, the rate of individual-based H. pylori new infection was 22.8% (55/241). The family-based H. pylori infection rate in 2021 was 76.9% (147/191), which decreased to 67.1% (116/173) in 2023, and the rate of family-based H. pylori new infection was 38.6% (17/44). Individual H. pylori infection was positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), eating food that was excessively hot, frequent acid reflux, bloating, and halitosis symptoms, and negatively correlated with family size and nut consumption. New individual H. pylori infection was positively correlated with BMI, other types of family structures, drinking purified water, and frequent heartburn symptoms, while negatively correlated with the use of refrigerators and following a regular eating schedule. A larger living area was an independent protective factor for H. pylori infection in households. Frequently consuming excessively hot food and symptoms of halitosis were independent risk factors for H. pylori infection in individuals; frequent consumption of nuts was an independent protective factor for H. pylori infection. Other types of family structure, drinking purified water, and frequent heartburn symptoms were independent risk factors for new individual H. pylori infection; the use of a refrigerator was an independent protective factor for new H. pylori infections.

Conclusion: The household H. pylori infection rate in Lanzhou is relatively high and linked to socio-demographic factors and lifestyles. Eradication efforts and control of related risk factors are recommended in the general population.

Keywords: China; Helicobacter pylori; Household; Prevalence; Risk factors.

Figure 1

Flow chart of household and individual enrolment processes. An infected household is defined as a household with at least one Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected family member. The new infection of H. pylori occurred in individuals who were not infected in 2021 but were infected in 2023.

Figure 2

Individual and household Helicobacter pylori infection rates. A: Individual and household Helicobacter pylori infection rates in 2021 and 2023; B: Proportion of households with different numbers of infected family members.