Biomedical Letters

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its associated diseases in low socio-economic workers in tertiary care hospital of Lahore, Pakistan

Noreen Sarwar 1, Rais Ahmed 4*, Marya Saadullah 3, Kamran ullah Khan 2, Shagufta Kamran 2, Faisal Ameen Baig 2, Muhammad Khalid Mansoor 4, Amjad Islam Aqib 5, Kashif Prince 5, Muhammad Zain Saleem 6, Abdul Whab Manzoor 7, Haleema Sadia 8

1 Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

2 Social Security Hospital, Mansoorah, Lahore, Pakistan

3 Department of Allied Health Sciences, Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

4 Department of Microbiology, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

5 Department of Medicine, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

6 Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

7 Veterinary Research Institute, Zarrar Shaheed Road, Lahore Cantt, Pakistan

8 Department of Biotechnology and Informatics, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta-87300, Pakistan

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is endemic worldwide and causes gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastric carcinoma. Purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori and its associated diseases among low socio-economic population attending a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Total 603 patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tract problems were included from March 2015 to December 2016. Strip detection test, urea breath test (UBT), endoscopy and biopsies were performed to confirm the presence of H. pylori. Out of 603 patients, 48 patients were positive for H. pylori and the prevalence was assessed up to 7.9%. Patients han females (31.3%). Age and gender betwaged >40 years were more affected than other young age groups. Males (68.8%) were more affected teen the two groups did not show significant association with H. pylori infection (p>0.05). But they were found to be inversely proportional to each other (p<0.01). Gasrtro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (6.3%, p>0.05) was not found to be statistically associated with the presence of H. pylori but hiatal hernia was strongly associated (p<0.05). In conclusions, the prevalence of H. pylori infection in a single tertiary care hospital is 7.9% and is decreasing due to improved overall hygiene and awareness. This also includes some people that show high perseverance on their health problems. Hiatal hernia is strongly associated with H. pylori infection (p<0.01) indicating hernia as common predisposing factor for this infection more than any other disease. The difference in infections in age and gender (p<0.01) shows exposure of the affected group more than the other group.