Abstract

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AMONG THE HEALTHY POPULATION IN LEBANON

Hala Khalife, Hassan Khalife, Khodor Haidar Hassan*, Ghassan Ghssein, Zeinab El Rashed and Fadi Abdel-Sater

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter pylori infection is probably the most important factor that has been associated with the development of gastric cancers in human populations. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence rate and to explore the associated factors among the population living in Beirut and Lebanon South. Two hundred seventy one healthy individuals aged 1-80 years were screened for Helicobacter Pylori by using Chorus IgG assay. The mean age of the subjects was 38.1 years (±SD 13.95). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 42.1 % in the subjects studied. A significant association is established between Gender and Helicobacter pylori infection. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was 1.5 times higher in men than in female. The highest prevalence rate was found in the age group [51-80 years]. However a very significant positive correlation was detected between Age and Helicobacter pylori infection. The Helicobacter pylori infection does not show any correlation with hyperinsulinemia, body mass index or waist circumference. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori seems to be slightly lower in Lebanon than in Arab and Middle Eastern countries, but still need attention. An attention should be paid to diagnosis in order to treat Helicobacter pylori infection in older people.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; infection; Lebanon; Prevalence.