Published online Dec 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i46.17618
Revised: July 30, 2014
Accepted: September 5, 2014
Published online: December 14, 2014
Processing time: 202 Days and 19 Hours
AIM: To investigate the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among the healthy asymptomatic population in Iran and countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
METHODS: A computerized English language literature search of PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar was performed in September 2013. The terms, “Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO)” and “Helicobacter pylori”, “H. pylori” and “prevalence” were used as key words in titles and/or abstracts. A complementary literature search was also performed in the following countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, The United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
RESULTS: In the electronic search, a total of 308 articles were initially identified. Of these articles, 26 relevant articles were identified and included in the study. There were 10 studies from Iran, 5 studies from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 4 studies from Egypt, 2 from the United Arab Emirates, and one study from Libya, Oman, Tunisia, and Lebanon, respectively. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection in Iran, irrespective of time and age group, ranged from 30.6% to 82%. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection, irrespective of time and age group, in other EMRO countries ranged from 22% to 87.6%.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori in EMRO countries is still high in the healthy asymptomatic population. Strategies to improve sanitary facilities, educational status, and socioeconomic status should be implemented to minimize H. pylori infection.
Core tip: Countries in the World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office include a group of developing countries located in the southwest and west of Asia as well as North Africa. Understanding the epidemiological aspects of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is important and helpful in clarifying the consequences and complications of infection. There are no systematic reviews on the prevalence and epidemiology of H. pylori in this geographically important region of the world. The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive review of the epidemiology of H. pylori infection in this area.