Current status of Helicobacter pylori infection at Fujita Health University Haneda Clinic

In East Asia, the incidence of gastric cancer is high, and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is strongly implicated. China has a high incidence rate of gastric cancer and high prevalence of HP infection. We conducted a survey on the current status of HP infection in China.

HP antibodies were measured in 496 Chinese nationals who visited our clinic. Participants were classified into groups based on a medical questionnaire: HP infection unknown; HP non-infected; and HP infected. Results of HP antibody tests were examined for each group. A comparative analysis was also conducted among 35 Japanese examinees.

The overall HP antibody positivity rate in Chinese patients was 39.9% (age group 20s: 14.3%, 30s: 40.0%, 40s: 45.0%, 50s: 35.8%, 60s: 32.6%, 70+: 57.1%). HP antibody positivity rates in the HP infection unknown, HP non-infected, and HP-infected groups were 39.0%, 23.3%, and 62.0%, respectively. In the HP-treated group, the HP antibody positivity rate was 52.3% in the eradication-confirmed group and 69.6% in the non-confirmed group. The overall HP antibody positivity rate among Japanese examinees was 17.1%, significantly lower than that among Chinese examinees (p=0.0074).

The HP antibody positivity rate in Chinese participants was higher among younger age groups, compared with Japanese participants, and tended to be higher when eradication confirmation was not performed after HP eradication therapy. Combining the group with unclear HP infection status and the group who did not undergo HP eradication confirmation, approximately half of Chinese participants had an unclear HP infection status.