October 24 (Fri.), 14:00–14:45, Room 15 (Kobe International Exhibition Hall No. 3 Digital Poster Session Venue)
IP-16
Differential Rates Of Disappearance Of H.pylori Between Races In A Young Multiethnic Asian Population In Malaysia
H.-R. Leow1
Co-authors: T. W.-C. Yap2, A.-N. Azmi1, M.-F. Loke2, J. Vadivelu2, K.-L. Goh1
1
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya
2
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya
Introduction: H.pylori infection rate is on the decline worldwide. This is particularly so amongst children and young adults. There has been no recent studies on the prevalence of H.pylori in a young Malaysian population. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of H.pylori infection and their ethnic distribution in young healthy volunteers in Malaysia. Methods: Consecutive young healthy students from our university were recruited. The diagnosis of H.pylori infection was determined by a validated 13C-Urea Breath Test (UBT). Result: As part of an on-going study, 545 subjects were recruited. Mean age was 22.53+/-2.63. 13C-UBT were positive in 58/545(10.6%). 10/240(4.2%) of Malay, 14/177(7.9%) of Chinese and 34/127(26.8%) of Indian had H.pylori infection. The difference were statistically significant (pp<0.001). 38/320(11.9%) female and 20/225(8.9%) male were 13C-UBT positive (p=0.266). Conclusion: Low prevalence of H.pylori infection observed in all volunteers. The high H.pylori prevalence amongst Indians and Chinese compared to Malays have been well shown in previous studies. However, overtime the prevalence rates in Chinese appeared to have declined dramatically nevertheless prevalence rates in Indians remains highest among the three ethnic groups. We await larger sample population to confirm our preliminary findings.