Sero-prevalence of helicobacter pylori among patients with Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GIT) symptoms : a retrospective study at selected Africa Air Rescue (AAR) clinics in Kampala Area from 2015 - 2019

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is extremely common worldwide, with almost half of the world’s population infected. In Uganda, no study has been done about the trends of sero-prevalence of H. pylori infection. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the trend of H. pylori sero-prevalence among patients presenting with GIT symptoms at selected AAR clinics in the Kampala area. A retrospective cross-sectional study involving patients’ medical records showing GIT symptoms and tested for Helicobacter pylori infection using stool antigen test between January 2015 and December 2019 from AAR clinics was executed. The overall 5-year H. pylori prevalence was 35.7% (1298/3634). The prevalence was higher in males, 36.0% (736/2044) than in females, 35.4% (562/1590), although not statistically significant (OR = 0.97, p = 0.680, 95% CI: 0.8 -1.1). The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly higher (39.4%) in GIT patients who belonged to the age group of 19 - 35 years (OR = 1.496, p <0.001, 95% CI: 1.2 -1.8). The sero-prevalence was 21.4% in 2015 and it increased to 34.0% in 2016, then decreased in 2017 to 28.2%, increased to 43.4% in 2018, and decreased again in 2019 to 37.3%. This study obtained high sero-prevalence of H. pylori among the GIT patients at AAR clinics in Kampala given that these clinics serve elite people, however, this was lower than 70% expected in African countries. Given the elite population targeted for this study, the prevalence among the age group of 19 – 35 could have been lower, however, it is the most productive age. This study also showed a fluctuating trend of H. pylori sero-prevalence in the 5years of study. In conclusion, H. pylori infestation is not a preserve of the poor only but also the elites. Stressful factors especially in the age-group of 19 - 35 years should be appropriately managed.