Comparative Study of Helicobacter pylori Infection Status in Tibetan and Chinese Families / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Background:There is no comparison of the current status of Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection in different ethnic groups in terms of families and their individuals.Aims:To investigated for the first time the status of Hp infection in Tibetan and Han Chinese families at the household level.Methods:A questionnaire was used to investigate factors associated with Hp in 50 Tibetan families in Ya'an,Sichuan Province,and 50 Han Chinese families in Chongqing Municipality.13C-urea breath test was used to detect Hp infection.Results:The individual and household Hp positivity rates of the Tibetan population in southwest China were 47.10%and 80%,which were significantly higher than those of the Han Chinese,which were 27.81%and 58%(P<0.05).However,the difference between Han and Tibetan in individual and household infection rates was not statistically significant.There are differences between Han Chinese and Tibetans in terms of infection status,geography,economic conditions,living habits and levels of hygiene.Infection was concentrated in certain family groups rather than being evenly distributed in the population.Conclusions:The current detection rate of Hp infection in individuals and families of Tibetan residents is significantly higher than that of Han Chinese,while the proportion of infected individuals is not statistically different.Transmission of Hp is characterized by family aggregation.There are differences in infection status,geographical environment,economic conditions,living habits and hygiene levels between Chinese and Tibetan families.