Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2005; 11(21): 3273-3276
Published online Jun 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i21.3273
Helicobacter pylori serology in a birth cohort of New Zealanders from age 11 to 26
J. Paul Fawcett, Gill O. Barbezat, Richie Poulton, Barry J. Milne, Harry H.X. Xia, Nicholas J. Talley
J. Paul Fawcett, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Gill O. Barbezat, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Richie Poulton, Barry J. Milne, Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Harry H.X. Xia, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Nicholas J. Talley, Department of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, NSW 2751, Australia
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. J.Paul Fawcett, School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. paul.fawcett@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Telephone: +64-3-479-7290 Fax: +64-3-479-7034
Received: July 9, 2004
Revised: July 10, 2004
Accepted: November 4, 2004
Published online: June 7, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To determine seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (DMHDS) at age 26 in order to investigate seroconversion and seroreversion from age 11 to 26 and the association of seropositivity with risk factors for H pylori infection.

METHODS: Participants in the DMHDS at age 26 and retro-spectively at age 21 were tested for H pylori antibodies using two commercially available ELISA kits. Gender, soci-oeconomic status (SES), smoking, educational attainment and employment at age 26 were tested for association with H pylori seropositivity.

RESULTS: At ages 21 and 26, seroprevalence of H pylori using one or other kit was 4.2% (n = 795) and 6.3% (n = 871) respectively. Seroreversion rate was lower than serocon-version rate (0.11% vs 0.53% per person-year) in contrast to the period from age 11 to 21 when seroreversion rate exceeded seroconversion rate (0.35% vs 0.11% per person-year). Serology in those tested at ages 11, 21, and 26 remained unchanged in 93.6% of the sample. Seroprevalence at age 26 was lower among those with a secondary school qualification (P = 0.042) but was not associated with gender, SES, smoking or employment status.

CONCLUSION: H pylori seroprevalence in a New Zealand birth cohort remains low between ages 11 and 26. H pylori infection remains stable from childhood to adulthood although seroreversion seems to be more common in the adolescent years than in young adults.

Keywords: H pylori; Seroprevalence; Cohort