The study objective was to investigate prevalence and
determinants of current Helicobacter
pylori infection in an asymptomatic population of middle-aged to elderly
people. A
cross-sectional study was conducted among 337 participants of a general
education programme of
the University of Ulm aged 50–85 years. Prevalence of infection
as determined by means of the
[13C]urea breath test was 34·8%
(95% CI 29·6–40·3%) ; overall, 33·8%
(95% CI 23·0–46·0) in
the age group 50–59 years, 32·4% (95% CI 25·4–39·9)
in the age group 60–69 years and
41·0% (95% CI 30·0–52·7) in the age group
70–85 years. Duration of school education of the
father, sharing a bed with parents or siblings during childhood, and the
area in which
participants had grown up were independent determinants of current infection
status in a
multivariable analysis. We conclude that the prevalence of current
H. pylori infection in
healthy elderly subjects may not be as high as seroprevalence studies have
suggested.
Socioeconomic characteristics of childhood living conditions appear to
be important
determinants of infection status even at older age.