Seroepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in hellenic navy recruits

To investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, as well as possible risk factors affecting its acquisition among young Greek adults.

Sera were collected from 153 male young Hellenic Navy recruits (mean age 23.6 y.o.; range, 20-30 y.o.) at induction into the Hellenic Navy during January 1999. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect HP-specific-IgG antibodies. All the subjects completed a structured questionnaire regarding demographic and socioeconomic data, as well as dietary habits, alcohol and tobacco use and gastrointestinal complaints. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression and the chi2 test.

The observed crude seropositivity rate was 19.01%. Among the examined parameters the most important predictive variable for HP-IgG status was the current median family income (B = +0.98, SE(B) = 0.56, p = 0.08, by logistic regression), which however, did not attain adequate statistical significance. The rate of seropositivity for HP that we observed is much lower than rates reported in older studies in this narrow-aged group in Greece. Probably the changes that ensued in life-style in Greece during the last 10 years resulted in a reduction in HP seropositivity.