Helicobacter pylori seropositivity among adolescents in Novosibirsk, Russia: prevalence and associated factors.

Objectives: We have reported previously that infection is widespread among adults in Siberia, in whom prevalence rates range from 70% to 90%. The present study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of infection and its relation to social factors in a community-based population of adolescents in Novosibirsk, Western Siberia.

Methods: All students in forms 9 to 11 of four randomly selected secondary schools participated. A total of 423 students (180 boys, 243 girls; age, 14-17 years) completed structured questionnaire concerning their lifestyle, and sera were tested for using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Pyloriset -New EIA-G; Orion Diagnostica, Finland). Personal information, including parental history, educational level, occupation, and smoking habits, were collected via a questionnaire.

Results: Overall, the seroprevalence of infection was 56.3%. Age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, number of children and pets in the household, and family history of gastric diseases were not associated with positivity. The predictors of infection were dwelling without running hot water supply and sewage (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-4.8), father's occupation as a manual worker (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.5-5.0), mother's occupation as a manual worker (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0-3.0), father's lower educational attainment (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6), and father's smoking (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2).

Conclusions: The prevalence of seropositivity among adolescents in Russia is higher than in developed countries. The infection is associated with lower socioeconomic status.