ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To determine whether military personnel are at increased risk of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in proportion to their occupation during their national service in the armed forces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 142 young male Hellenic Navy recruits (mean age, 23.6 years; range, 20-30 years). The first specimen was obtained during their induction into the Hellenic Navy, and the second was obtained after having served for 8 months in different services within Greece. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect HP-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Statistical analysis was performed using the sign test, logistic regression, and the chi 2 test. RESULTS: The crude seropositivity rate increased from 19.01% to 28.16% (p = 0.007). Of the 115 initially seronegative subjects, 17 (14.8%) seroconverted. The most important predictive variable for seroconversion was deployment in a crowded commission (> 20 subjects) combined with the absence of air conditioning in personnel sleeping quarters (p = 0.03, odds ratio = 3.14). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the risk of HP infection increases among 20- to 30-year-old individuals during their national service. Degrading environmental conditions may play a major role in HP transmission between young adults who serve in the armed forces.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology , Helicobacter pylori/immunology , Military Personnel , Adult , Antigens, Bacterial/blood , Chi-Square Distribution , Cohort Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Greece/epidemiology , Helicobacter Infections/blood , Helicobacter Infections/immunology , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Naval Medicine , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, as well as possible risk factors affecting its acquisition among young Greek adults. METHODOLOGY: Sera were collected from 153 male young Hellenic Navy recruits (mean age 23.6 y.o.; range, 20-30 y.o.) at induction into the Hellenic Navy during January 1999. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect HP-specific-IgG antibodies. All the subjects completed a structured questionnaire regarding demographic and socioeconomic data, as well as dietary habits, alcohol and tobacco use and gastrointestinal complaints. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression and the chi2 test. RESULTS: The observed crude seropositivity rate was 19.01%. Among the examined parameters the most important predictive variable for HP-IgG status was the current median family income (B = +0.98, SE(B) = 0.56, p = 0.08, by logistic regression), which however, did not attain adequate statistical significance. The rate of seropositivity for HP that we observed is much lower than rates reported in older studies in this narrow-aged group in Greece. Probably the changes that ensued in life-style in Greece during the last 10 years resulted in a reduction in HP seropositivity.
