Zhou JK, Zheng Y, Wang YP, Ji R. Prevalence and associated risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in community households in Lanzhou city. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30(47): 5018-5031 [PMID: 39713168 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i47.5018]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Rui Ji, PhD, Chief Doctor, Full Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China. jir@lzu.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Observational Study
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Ju-Kun Zhou, The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Ju-Kun Zhou, Ya Zheng, Yu-Ping Wang, Rui Ji, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Ju-Kun Zhou, Ya Zheng, Yu-Ping Wang, Rui Ji, Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Author contributions: Zhou JK, Zheng Y, Wang YP, and Ji R conceived and designed the study; Zhou JK and Zheng Y searched and screened related literature; Zhou JK and Ji R performed data collection; Wang YP and Ji R performed a quality assessment; Zhou JK, Zheng Y, and Ji R analyzed the data and explained the outcomes; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Supported byThe Lanzhou Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project, China, No. 2019-RC-33; and The Medical Innovation and Development Project of Lanzhou University, China, No. lzuyxcx-2022-184.
Institutional review board statement: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, No. LDYYLL2021-146.
Informed consent statement: All study participants or their legal guardians provided informed written consent about personal and medical data collection prior to study enrolment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in this work.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Rui Ji, PhD, Chief Doctor, Full Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China. jir@lzu.edu.cn
Received: May 24, 2024 Revised: September 12, 2024 Accepted: September 23, 2024 Published online: December 21, 2024 Processing time: 185 Days and 19.1 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection exhibits a familial clustering phenomenon.
AIM
To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection, identify associated factors, and analyze patterns of transmission within families residing in the community.
METHODS
From July 2021 to September 2021, a total of 191 families (519 people) in two randomly chosen community health service centers in the Chengguan District of Lanzhou in Gansu Province, were recruited to fill out questionnaires and tested for H. pylori infection. Individuals were followed up again from April 2023 and June 2023 to test for H. pylori infection. The relationship between variables and H. pylori infection was analyzed using logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models.
RESULTS
In 2021, the individual-based H. pylori infection rate was found to be 47.0% (244/519), which decreased to 38.1% (177/464) in 2023. Additionally, the rate of individual-based H. pylori new infection was 22.8% (55/241). The family-based H. pylori infection rate in 2021 was 76.9% (147/191), which decreased to 67.1% (116/173) in 2023, and the rate of family-based H. pylori new infection was 38.6% (17/44). Individual H. pylori infection was positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), eating food that was excessively hot, frequent acid reflux, bloating, and halitosis symptoms, and negatively correlated with family size and nut consumption. New individual H. pylori infection was positively correlated with BMI, other types of family structures, drinking purified water, and frequent heartburn symptoms, while negatively correlated with the use of refrigerators and following a regular eating schedule. A larger living area was an independent protective factor for H. pylori infection in households. Frequently consuming excessively hot food and symptoms of halitosis were independent risk factors for H. pylori infection in individuals; frequent consumption of nuts was an independent protective factor for H. pylori infection. Other types of family structure, drinking purified water, and frequent heartburn symptoms were independent risk factors for new individual H. pylori infection; the use of a refrigerator was an independent protective factor for new H. pylori infections.
CONCLUSION
The household H. pylori infection rate in Lanzhou is relatively high and linked to socio-demographic factors and lifestyles. Eradication efforts and control of related risk factors are recommended in the general population.
Core Tip: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is characterized by family cluster infection. However, studies investigating the status of H. pylori infection and patterns of intra-household transmission are scarce. In our study, the individual H. pylori infection rate in the Chengguan District of Lanzhou was found to have decreased from 47.0% in 2021 to 38.1% in 2023. The rate of new individual infection is currently 22.8%. Similarly, the proportion of households with at least one infected member has decreased from 76.9% in 2021 to 67.1% in 2023. These results suggest that family-based prevention and treatment are more conducive to the management of H. pylori.
Citation: Zhou JK, Zheng Y, Wang YP, Ji R. Prevalence and associated risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in community households in Lanzhou city. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30(47): 5018-5031
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral-shaped gram-negative bacterium. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found that the estimated global prevalence of H. pylori infection decreased from 58.2% in the 1980-1990 period to 43.1% in the 2011-2022 period[1]. Although the prevalence of H. pylori infection in China is high, most patients do not present with obvious symptoms or complications. However, almost all H. pylori-infected individuals undergo inflammatory changes in their gastric mucosa 25%-30% of cases develop a variety of gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal disorders[2-4]. Studies on familial H. pylori clustering infections have increased in recent years. In a large-scale study of H. pylori in 29 provinces in mainland China in 2021, 10735 families (31098 individuals) were included, and the average individual-based H. pylori infection rate was 40.66%. Among these, 43.45% were adults and 20.55% were children and adolescents. The average family-based infection rate was 71.21%. The rate of familial H. pylori infection is much higher than that of individuals, and the infection rates are higher in northwest China[5]. Zhang et al[6] found that the use of a family-based strategy to screen for H. pylori infections exhibited an improvement of 4.02% in the ability to detect infection. This approach is a cost-effective strategy that enables an optimized allocation of screening resources[7].
Several studies have shown that H. pylori is mainly transmitted through oral-oral and fecal-oral contact, as well as through water sources[8,9]. Infection is also caused by close contact with H. pylori-positive family members[10,11]. This may explain persistent, recurrence and reinfection of H. pylori. Parents, especially mothers, infected with H. pylori, have been found to play a crucial role in transmitting the bacteria to their children[12,13]. The infection rate of H. pylori in children significantly increases with an increase in the parental infection rate[14]. Although a Japanese study initially showed support for this, it also highlighted the importance of mother-to-child transmission, making it difficult to clarify the spread of H. pylori in these families[15]. The transmission of H. pylori is also evident between spouses and among siblings. Studies on H. pylori infection in spouses have highlighted a degree of consistency in infection among spouses, wherein one spouse’s infection could increase the other’s risk of becoming infected[16]. As the duration of marriage increases, the infection rate of H. pylori in spouses has also been found to increase significantly, indicative of potential cross-infection between couples[17]. In a previous study conducted in Spain, a remarkably high consistency of H. pylori transmission among siblings was observed, further confirming that sibling-to-sibling transmission is a route of H. pylori infection in children. Additionally, living with non-siblings in extended families may increase the risk of infection, but only in families where H. pylori infection is prevalent in all family groups[18]. Therefore, familial clustering and the high prevalence of H. pylori are among the most important reasons for the failure of H. pylori treatment. This is because it can lead to transmission among family members during the treatment process and increase the recurrence rate of H. pylori in patients after eradication.
Previous large clinical studies and guideline consensus recommend tests and treatments, as well as screening and treatment strategies for the individual-based management of H. pylori infection in various infected populations[2-4,19]. Due to the familial clustering of H. pylori infections, whole-family H. pylori infection control and management is clinically significant for the prevention of related diseases[20]. In China, a newly proposed strategy of family-based H. pylori infection control and management provides an advanced clinical approach for controlling the intrafamilial transmission and infection of H. pylori[8,17]. However, relatively few studies have investigated the status of family-based infections, associated factors, and patterns of intrafamilial transmission in the general population.
In this study, a cross-sectional comparison of infections before and after 20 months was conducted to evaluate household infections, risk factors, and transmission routes of H. pylori in families in the community of Lanzhou, in northwest China. We also assessed the willingness of H. pylori-infected individuals to undergo co-treatment with their entire family and conducted post-treatment follow-up. This study provides empirical evidence relating to familial H. pylori infection and contributes to the development of improved strategies for family co-treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study population and design
This family-based survey was conducted in the Chengguan District of Lanzhou in Gansu Province, China from July 2021 to September 2021. After considering factors such as area, water source, cost, accessibility, testing facilities, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we randomly selected the Zhangye Road Guangwumen Community Health Service Center and the Yanchang Road Caochang Street Community Health Service Center from which to recruit volunteers by distributing introductory brochures or information booklet for this study and posting posters at community health service centers to inform residents of the risk of H. pylori infection and the need for eradication treatment. We offered free testing to those who volunteered to participate on a family basis, without any incentives. At the research site, our experienced doctors provided relevant consultation services. Community workers were responsible for helping to recruit community family members for onsite registration.
Participants included in the study were defined as individuals who had resided in the same household for a period exceeding 10 months within the past five years. The exclusion criteria encompassed the use of medications, including antibiotics, herbal medicines with antimicrobial properties, proton pump inhibitors, bismuth, probiotics, and other pharmaceuticals that could potentially impact the outcomes of the test if consumed within the preceding four weeks. In total, 519 individuals from 191 households (family size ≥ 2 persons) participated in the complete survey. All members of the included households participated, carefully fulfilling the H. pylori testing and completing the relevant questionnaire. After the completion of initial testing, the active intent-to-treat population was provided with a first-line bismuth-containing quadruple regimen for H. pylori eradication, and followed up again from April and June 2023 to test for H. pylori infection. However, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic since 2019, the treatment population has been unable to undergo timely follow-up examinations.
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University (No. LDYYLL2021-146), and all participants provided written informed consent. For participants who were minors, written informed consent was obtained from a legal guardian.
Questionnaires for family members
Our questionnaire was rigorously designed based on the existing literature. Before initiating the study, we conducted a small-scale pilot experiment to ensure that participants could understand the reliability and accuracy of the questions and answers. For each eligible household, all members were asked to complete a questionnaire online or on-site. Well-trained physicians and community workers were on hand to guide and help individuals with the registration process and the filling out of the questionnaires. All participants were informed that their information would be treated as confidential and only used for statistical analysis. Community workers at the health centers with knowledge of the families assisted in checking the questionnaires to avoid the inclusion of careless answers. According to the purpose of this study, the questionnaire included the following items: (1) General information (e.g. age, gender, body mass index (BMI), the number of family members, occupation, marital status, income, and housing areas); (2) Family hygiene and living habits; (3) Dietary habits; (4) Exercise and sleep status; (5) Chronic diseases; (6) Gastrointestinal symptoms; and (7) Family history of gastrointestinal diseases.
H. pylori testing for all family members
According to the manufacturer's instructions, a specially trained clinical physician or laboratory technician used the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) reagent kit to evaluate all participating family members for H. pylori infection. All study participants were tested in the morning after fasting for at least 6 hours. After collecting an initial breath sample with the sample collection container bag during normal respiration, the participants were orally administered 80 mL of a pre-prepared orange juice-flavored solution containing 50 mg of 13C-urea. Thirty minutes later, a second breath sample was collected. We analyzed the samples using a 13C breath detector (Guangzhou Huayou Mingkang Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., China). A delta over baseline ≥ 4.0‰ was considered positive for H. pylori, and a delta over baseline < 4.0‰ was considered negative. An infected household was defined as a household with at least one H. pylori-infected family member. The definition of a new infection of H. pylori was that of an individual who was not infected in 2021 but was infected in 2023. The definition of new infected households was that of families where all family members were negative in 2021 and at least one positive member was infected in 2023. All tests were conducted in adherence to the manufacturer's instructions, with calibration and verification completed using samples of known gas concentrations supplied by the analyzer manufacturer before the start of the study.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analyses were conducted with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 27.0.1. Categorical data were presented as frequencies and percentages. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the correlation between the study variables and H. pylori infection. When analyzing at the family level, a binary logistic regression model was used due to the independence between families. At the individual level, a generalized linear mixed model was utilized to account for the nested nature of individuals within households in the collected data. Variables with statistical significance in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models to investigate the association between risk factors and H. pylori infection. The results indicated odds ratios (OR) and 95%CI. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS
General information on enrolled families and individuals
Details of family enrollment are provided in Figure 1. A total of 519 individuals from 191 families signed informed consent and received 13C-UBT testing for analysis of prevalence and risk factors. In 2023, 18 families (55 individuals) were lost to follow-up testing, and 173 families (464 individuals) completed the 13C-UBT.
Figure 1 Flow chart of household and individual enrolment processes.
An infected household is defined as a household with at least one Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected family member. The new infection of H. pylori occurred in individuals who were not infected in 2021 but were infected in 2023.
The average age of the 519 individuals in 2021 was 45.3 years. Of these individuals, 222 (42.8%) were male, 297 (57.2%) were female, 404 (77.8%) were married, and 55 (10.6%) were children and adolescents. The average family size of the 191 participating families was 3.0 persons. A total of 173 families (464 individuals) followed up in 2023, comprising 194 (41.8%) males, 270 (58.1%) females, and 49 (10.5%) children and adolescents (Table 1).
Table 1 Demographic information and Helicobacter pylori infection status of enrolled individuals, n (%).
Household H. pylori infection status and risk factors
The family-based H. pylori infection rate in 2021 was 76.9% (147/191). All members were infected in 19.8% (43/191) of the enrolled families, in 54.5% (104/191) of the families at least one member was infected, and in 23.0% (44/191), there were no infections. The family-based infection rate in 2023 was 67.1% (116/173). All members were infected in 13.3% (23/173) of the enrolled families. In 51.4% (89/173) of the families, at least one member was infected, and in 32.3% (57/173) of the families, there were no infections (Figure 2A-B).
Figure 2 Individual and household Helicobacter pylori infection rates.
A: Individual and household Helicobacter pylori infection rates in 2021 and 2023; B: Proportion of households with different numbers of infected family members.
Information on the infection and risk factors of the family members in the 191 registered households is provided in Table 2. A larger living area (e.g., sixty and above: OR: 0.10, 95%CI: 0.01-0.77) was an independent protective factor for household infections (P < 0.05). Other factors in this study did not affect the risk of household infections (P > 0.05), including family size and structure, annual household income level, household hygiene, eating habits, and the sharing of cups, dental implements, towels, dishes, and drinking sources.
Table 2 Household Helicobacter pylori infection status and risk factors, n (%).
Use cleaning agents or detergent to clean tableware
Frequently
39 (79.6)
10 (20.4)
Reference
Everyday
108 (76.1)
34 (23.9)
0.81
0.37-1.80
0.613
Sharing drinking cup
Rarely
111 (76.0)
35 (24.0)
Reference
Frequently
36 (80.0)
9 (20.0)
1.26
0.55-2.87
0.581
Sharing dental equipment
Rarely
135 (77.1)
40 (22.9)
Reference
Frequently
12 (75.0)
4 (25.0)
0.89
0.27-2.91
0.846
Sharing towels
Rarely
130 (76.5)
40 (23.5)
Reference
Frequently
17 (81.0)
4 (19.0)
1.31
0.42-4.11
0.646
Sharing tableware
Rarely
69 (73.4)
25 (26.6)
Reference
Frequently
78 (80.4)
19 (19.6)
1.49
0.75-2.93
0.252
Source of drinking water
Tap water
73 (73.7)
26 (26.3)
Reference
Purified water
74 (80.4)
18 (19.6)
1.46
0.74-2.90
0.273
Storage methods for leftover food
Put it in the fridge
120 (76.9)
36 (23.1)
Reference
Room temperature
17 (81.0)
4 (19.0)
1.28
0.40-4.03
0.679
Throw away
10 (71.4)
4 (28.6)
0.75
0.22-2.54
0.643
Individual-based H. pylori infection status and risk factors
In 2021, the individual-based H. pylori infection rate was found to be 47.0% (244/519), which decreased to 38.1% (177/464) in 2023 (Figure 2A). Initially, the consideration of individuals infected with H. pylori was designated as the dependent variable, and a generalized mixed model was employed to establish a two-level zero model with individuals at level 1 and families at level 2. The findings indicated a significant clustering of H. pylori infection within households (P < 0.05). Age, BMI, family size, eating excessively hot food, consumption of nuts, and having symptoms of acid reflux, bloating, and halitosis were all found to be associated with H. pylori infection in individuals (P < 0.05) (Supplementary Table 1).
In a multivariate analysis, eating excessively hot food daily or often (OR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.09-4.11) and frequent or occasional symptoms of halitosis (OR: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.39-0.93) were independent risk factors for individual infection (P < 0.05). However, the daily or frequent consumption of nuts (OR: 0.60, 95%CI: 0.39-0.93) was an independent protective factor for individual H. pylori infection (Table 3, P < 0.05).
Table 3 Multivariate analysis of factors associated with individual-based Helicobacter pylori infection.
Model
Intercept and variables
Odds ratio
95%CI
P value
Fixed effect
Intercept
0.53
0.21-1.35
0.184
Age (years)
≤ 18
Reference
≤ 39
1.68
0.75-3.75
0.207
≤ 59
1.74
0.76-4.02
0.193
≥ 60
1.97
0.82-4.71
0.127
Body mass index (kg/m2)
< 18.5
Reference
18.5-23.9
2.25
0.80-6.31
0.123
24-27.9
1.28
0.56-2.95
0.557
> 28
1.19
0.55-2.61
0.656
Family size
2
Reference
3
0.69
0.43-1.12
0.134
Four and above
0.64
0.37-1.11
0.114
Eating too hot food
Never
Reference
Occasionally
1.14
0.73-1.79
0.563
Every day or often
2.11
1.09-4.11
0.027
Consumption of nuts
Never
Reference
Occasionally
0.56
0.36-0.88
0.013
Every day or often
0.45
0.22-0.92
0.03
Heartburn
Never or rarely
Reference
Often or occasionally
1.00
0.64-1.57
0.993
Abdominal distension
Never or rarely
Reference
Often or occasionally
1.07
0.64-1.80
0.791
Halitosis
Never or rarely
Reference
Often or occasionally
1.70
1.06-2.72
0.028
Random effect
Level 2
0.055
Level 1 (scale parameters)
Individual-based H. pylori new infection status and risk factors
The individual-based H. pylori new infection rate was 22.8% (55/241). In the 2023 follow-up, 92 out of 244 individuals infected with H. pylori in 2021 opted for eradication treatment using the bismuth quadruple. BMI, family structure, source of drinking water, use of a refrigerator at home, following a regular eating schedule, and heartburn symptoms were associated with new H. pylori infection (P < 0.05) (Supplementary Table 2).
In a multivariate analysis, family structure (e.g., others: OR: 7.18, 95%CI: 1.83-28.13), source of drinking water (e.g., purified water, OR: 3.08, 95%CI: 1.34-7.10), and frequent or occasional symptoms of heartburn (OR: 3.21, 95%CI: 1.35-7.64) were independent risk factors for new individual H. pylori infection (P < 0.05). However, the use of a refrigerator at home (OR: 0.11, 95%CI: 0.02-0.75) was an independent protective factor for new H. pylori infections (Table 4, P < 0.05).
Table 4 Multivariate analysis of factors associated with new individual-based Helicobacter pylori infection.
Model
Intercept and variables
Odds ratio
95%CI
P value
Fixed effect
Intercept
0.13
0.01-1.56
0.107
Body mass index (kg/m2)
< 18.5
Reference
18.5-23.9
2.80
0.64-12.27
0.171
24-27.9
4.33
0.89-21.06
0.069
> 28
6.71
0.87-51.80
0.068
Family structure
Couple's family
Reference
Nuclear family
1.53
0.29-7.98
0.612
Immediate family
3.43
0.80-14.71
0.097
United States family
3.61
0.78-16.78
0.101
Others
7.18
1.83-28.13
0.005
Source of drinking water
Tap water
Reference
Purified water
3.08
1.34-7.10
0.008
Using a refrigerator at home
No
Reference
Yes
0.11
0.02-0.75
0.025
Eating regularly and on time
Often or occasionally
Reference
Every day
0.47
0.22-1.02
0.056
Heartburn
Never or rarely
Reference
Often or occasionally
3.21
1.35-7.64
0.009
Random effect
Level 2
0.062
Level 1 (scale parameters)
DISCUSSION
Our study investigated the prevalence of H. pylori infection within households and individuals within the community of Lanzhou in Gansu Province, China, for which cross-sectional comparisons were conducted after 20 months. The results revealed that the rate of family-based H. pylori infections was significantly higher than individual-based infections, indicative of the existence of an inter-family of H. pylori infection, possibly due to the high prevalence of H. pylori in the general population and communal dining habits in China. In the present study, the assessment of H. pylori test outcomes before and after a 20-month period revealed a reduction in the prevalence of individual infection from 47.0% (244/519) to 38.1% (177/464), as well as a decrease in the prevalence of household infection from 76.9% (147/191) to 67.1% (116/173). There are several potential explanations for this phenomenon: (1) A shift in poor living and dietary habits among participants following an increased awareness of H. pylori infection through health education; (2) Some infected people voluntarily chose eradication treatment, and although some of them did not undergo eradication treatment for H. pylori infection, they tested negative for 13C-UBT in 2023, potentially due to the widespread antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic[21]; and (3) Due to the limitations of this study’s sample size.
Nevertheless, infected family members were recommended to undergo quadruple treatment. However, a 22.8% rate for new infections was observed in this study, which may be due to the combination of a high incidence of H. pylori infection and communal dining habits in China. In 2021, only 37.3% (92/244) of infected individuals voluntarily received eradication treatment via the bismuth quadruple therapy, and they did not follow up in a timely during the medication period, potentially resulting in insufficient compliance. According to the questionnaire, in families where participants tested positive for H. pylori, fewer of the infected members in these families followed up with treatment together after health education. This was partly because a small percentage of enrolled participants were unable or unwilling to receive treatment. Some infected members of the family selected eradication treatment, while other infected family members were at increased risk of reinfection and recurrence if they did not undergo eradication treatment[22]. These findings highlight the need to provide treatment to all family members who have been infected together.
Sampling for this study was conducted at Community Health Service Centers, which services over 10 communities, and evaluated the impact of different household factors, such as occupation, education levels, and different income levels, on the rates of infection. The results suggested that a larger living area per capita was an independent protective factor for household H. pylori infection. This is in line with previous research that living in crowded living conditions is associated with higher rates of H. pylori infection[9,23]. Nevertheless, factors such as family size and structure, income levels, hygienic conditions, and shared use of living goods were not found to be significantly correlated with household infections. In this study, as individuals began to realize the importance of personal hygiene and living standards in disease prevention, fewer living goods were shared, with the exception of dishes and chopsticks. Previous studies have shown a strong correlation between H. pylori infection in family members and their lifestyle choices, as well as the significance of intra-household transmission of the infection in family members. H. pylori is adapted to live in the stomach and can enter the mouth through the reflux of gastric juice. As a result, H. pylori can be transmitted through the sharing of tableware or cups, or by chewing or tasting children’s food[24]. A study of children in China found that eating in unsterilized conditions, sharing towels, communal meals, maternal chew-feeding, artificial feeding, lack of hand hygiene, overcrowded housing, and a family history of gastrointestinal disease were associated with a significantly increased risk of infection[24]. Some studies have identified low levels of household income and education[5,17], infection in family members, larger family size, and family history of gastric cancer as risk factors for household H. pylori infection[5].
Our findings highlight a noteworthy association between age and H. pylori infection, with a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection observed in individuals over the age of 60 years. This susceptibility in older individuals can be attributed to age-related declines in physiological function, resistance, and immunity. Nevertheless, studies have indicated a decrease in H. pylori infection rates in individuals aged 40-50 years[25,26], possibly due to younger and middle-aged individuals being more likely to come into contact with infected individuals while dining out and socializing. Furthermore, cytokines are essential in combating H. pylori, and variations in immune responses across age groups further influence infection rates[27]. There may be a bi-directional association between BMI and H. pylori infection[28]. Our research revealed a positive association between BMI and the prevalence of H. pylori infection in individuals, with overweight individuals showing a heightened risk of new infections. Previous research has established a positive correlation between H. pylori infection and BMI in developing countries[29-31], while a negative association has been observed in developed nations[32]. This was supported by the significant rise in body weight observed after the successful eradication of H. pylori, which may be attributed to the improvement of gastrointestinal dyspepsia symptoms following the elimination of the infection[33]. The mechanisms underlying the relationship between H. pylori infection and obesity are unclear. There was a suggestion that gastrointestinal hormone regulation may play a role. Individuals infected with H. pylori were found to exhibit decreased serum leptin levels, which can lead to delayed satiety and an increased susceptibility to obesity[34]. An additional potential mechanism contributing to the development of obesity in individuals infected with H. pylori was the observed association with increased insulin resistance[35]. Furthermore, compromised gastrointestinal immune function in individuals with obesity may promote the persistence of H. pylori[36].
Family size and structure were linked to individual H. pylori infections in this study, with infection rates decreasing as the number of family members increased. This contradicts previous findings that larger families have a higher risk of infection[4,5], possibly because many two-person families in this study were couples who were in close contact with each other. Previously, studies have found that couples in which one partner is infected face a heightened risk of infection, and that couples exhibiting symptoms of reflux are more susceptible to infection[37,38]. In this study, other family structures, including sibling, single-parent, or intergenerational families, exhibited a greater susceptibility to new infections compared to husband-and-wife families. This finding contradicted the prevailing notion that households with spouses are more closely contact-transmissible and therefore at higher risk, indicative of a potentially complex pattern underlying the intrafamilial transmission of H. pylori.
A significant correlation was observed between the frequent consumption of excessively hot food and an elevated incidence of infection. This association may be attributed to the irritant effects of hot food on the gastric mucosa, leading to a reduction in gastrointestinal resistance and increased susceptibility to infection. This finding aligns with the outcomes of a multicenter randomized study conducted by Razuka-Ebela et al[39] in Latvia, Eastern Europe. The study involved 1855 participants aged 40-64 years and examined the presence of antibodies for H. pylori. The results indicated that the consumption of excessively hot food or beverages was identified as a risk factor for H. pylori infection (OR: 1.32, 95%CI: 1.03-1.69). We also found that the consumption of nuts was an independent protective factor for H. pylori infection in individuals. In a study conducted by Shu et al[40] on Chinese adults aged 40 years to 59 years, a diet rich in nuts was associated with a reduced prevalence of H. pylori infection. Phytochemicals obtained from nuts have been shown to inhibit H. pylori infection and influence metabolic and gut bacteria[41]. Consequently, the moderate consumption of nuts may help prevent H. pylori infection. Following a regular eating schedule was also found to be an independent protective factor for new individual H. pylori infections. Overeating and irregular prolonged meal times were associated with an increased risk of H. pylori infection[42,43]. These results suggest that eating regular meals, including avoiding oversaturation or excessive hunger, could help to prevent gastric mucosal damage and dysfunction resulting from abnormal gastric acid secretion, thereby reducing the risk of H. pylori infection.
A significant positive association was observed between individuals experiencing frequent symptoms of acid reflux, bloating, and halitosis and H. pylori infection, as well as a positive association between frequent heartburn symptoms and new H. pylori infection. These findings aligned with those of previous studies indicating a link between H. pylori infections and gastrointestinal dysfunction[44]. However, some studies have found that chronic dyspepsia does not predict H. pylori infection[45]. A study even identified a significant negative correlation between frequent symptoms of reflux and the presence of H. pylori antibodies[46]. Thus, halitosis could be a risk factor for H. pylori infection in individuals. In cases of H. pylori infection, there is a notable decrease in pressure in the lower esophagus, leading to the reflux of stomach contents and the subsequent transmission of strains to the oral cavity, resulting in halitosis. However, H. pylori infection was not found to be an independent risk factor for halitosis. Several studies have demonstrated the presence of H. pylori in saliva, the dorsum of the tongue, and dental plaque in the oral cavity of individuals with periodontal disease[47,48].
In summary, the prevalence of household H. pylori infection in families living in Lanzhou is significantly higher than the rate of individual infection. In response to the fact that H. pylori is characterized by familial clustering, in 2021, China proposed measures for the “family-based prevention and control of H. pylori infection” as an important strategy to effectively stop the infection and spread of H. pylori[8]. This is applicable in areas unaffected by the incidence of H. pylori infection and gastric cancer, and in some high-prevalence areas, is economically beneficial, reducing both the social and economic burden[49]. It is extremely important to raise public awareness of H. pylori through lectures on lifestyle and dietary habits. In this respect, the following measures could be taken: (1) Address unhealthy lifestyles, improve personal hygiene (e.g. wash hands before meals), adopt healthy habits (e.g. quit smoking and drinking), and practice physical exercise; (2) Pay attention to dietary habits, avoid consuming high-risk foods and raw foods, do not share chopsticks and spoons, and improve the dietary structure; (3) Monitor screening, especially for previously infected individuals, the family members of infected individuals, and other high-risk groups, such as those with halitosis, periodontal disease, etc.; and (4) H. pylori-infected individuals and their family members should undergo joint eradication treatment, and accurate testing and evaluation should be carried out before eradication. For children and the elderly, accurate testing and a comprehensive evaluation should be mainly based on their age, symptoms, and tolerance level before deciding whether to treat.
This study has several limitations. These include the lack of a timely review post-treatment for H. pylori-infected patients in 2021 and the inability to determine eradication failure or re-infection in individuals with positive 13C-UBT test results in 2023. In addition, although three-quarters of the infected families were willing to receive treatment together, not many families ultimately chose to be co-treated on a family basis, making it difficult to compare the eradication rate of co-treatment between families and individuals. These findings highlight the continued need for health education and the promotion of lifestyle changes. In addition, the small size of the study limits the representation of H. pylori infections in Lanzhou. Furthermore, the absence of bacterial strain culture and DNA data prevented the precise assessment of H. pylori genotypes in infected individuals.
CONCLUSION
In summary, the household H. pylori infection rate in Lanzhou is relatively high and linked to socio-demographic factors and lifestyles. Eradication efforts and control of related risk factors are recommended in the general population.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
we would like to thank the participants for generously dedicating their time to answering the questionnaire and providing test samples.
Footnotes
Provenance and peer review: Unsolicited article; Externally peer reviewed.
Peer-review model: Single blind
Specialty type: Gastroenterology and hepatology
Country of origin: China
Peer-review report’s classification
Scientific Quality: Grade A, Grade C, Grade C
Novelty: Grade B, Grade B, Grade C
Creativity or Innovation: Grade A, Grade B, Grade C
Scientific Significance: Grade A, Grade B, Grade C
P-Reviewer: Kirkik D; Rao RSP; Vyshka G S-Editor: Luo ML L-Editor: A P-Editor: Zheng XM
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