Migration and Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence: Bangladeshi migrants in the U.K

Helicobacter pylori, an infectious agent of worldwide public health importance, has higher seroprevalence in developing countries than in developed countries. We investigated whether Bangladeshi women, born in Bangladesh, have a greater H. pylori seroprevalence than Bangladeshi women born in the U.K. and, in addition, whether there is an association between H. pylori seropositivity and age of migration to the U.K. amongst Bangladeshi women. Women attending antenatal clinics at the Royal London Hospital were screened using ELISA for anti-H. pylori IgG. In Bangladeshi individuals born in the U.K., 13/16 (81%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 54%-96%) and, in Bangladeshi individuals born in Bangladesh 91/137 (66%, 95% CI 59%-74%) had antibodies to H. pylori. No significant association was found between H. pylori seropositivity and country of birth, or age at migration to the U.K. Public health strategies concerning H. pylori should consider migrant populations with high seroprevalence of H. pylori.