Seroprevalence of Helicobacter Pylori among Human in Erbil and Rania City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract

Background: More than half of the world's population is influenced by Helicobacter pylori infection. The infection is commonly obtained during childhood but may stay asymptomatic, with long-term clinical consequences such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, and stomach cancer.
Aim: To determine the prevalence rate of Helicobacter pylori infection and related variables such as gender, and seasonal variation in Erbil and Rania cities.
Materials and methods: In a retrospective study the information was gathered by reviewing laboratory records of 1626 patients. Of the total 1126 records from Razgary hospital in Erbil and 500 records from Rania hospital. Antibodies to H. pylori were identified by rapid immunological examination.
Results: The overall seroprevalence rate of Helicobacter pylori infection was 42.19% (686/1626) in all samples tested from both cities. In addition, the H. pylori seroprevalence was 37.92% in Erbil and 51.8% in Rania and the difference was highly significant (X2 = 27.198; P=0.00001). The seroprevalence was higher in male in Erbil [Male (44.15%) and female (32.85%)], while in Rania the prevalence was higher in female (69% for female and 37.5% for male). The highest rate of prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was in April (43.75%) and November (43.22%), while the lowest rate was found in September (0%) in Erbil city. In Rania city the highest rate of prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was in June (69.2%) and May (67.7%) while the lowest rate was found in February (34.1%).
Conclusion: The present study results warranted conduction of large scale study in order to confirm the local variation in H. pylori prevalence within Iraqi community