Prevalence and risk factors of infection in military personnel: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection is prevalent and recognized as a major cause of gastrointestinal diseases in the world. Previous studies on the prevalence of H. pylori infection in military personnel have shown some conflicting results. This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of H. pylori infection and evaluate its risk factors in military personnel.

Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. We pooled the prevalence of H. pylori infection in military personnel using a random-effect model. Metaregression analysis was used to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Pooled proportion of H. pylori infection with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated.

Results: Sixteen studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that the overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 32% (95% CI = 31-33) in military personnel. There was a significant heterogeneity. Metaregression analysis showed that study region (P = 0.0004) and publication year (P = 0.023) were the potential sources of heterogeneity. In the subgroup analysis by study region, the highest prevalence was found in Asia (50.2%; 95% CI = 49-51.4). In the subgroup analysis by diagnostic methods for H. pylori, the highest prevalence was found when urea breath test was employed (47.9%; 95% CI = 46.5-49.3). The most common risk factor for H. pylori infection was familial aggregation, followed by living environment and age.

Conclusion: H. pylori infection is common in military personnel. In future, we may require appropriate population screening for H. pylori infection by multiple diagnostic tests and increase the knowledge and awareness of the bacterial transmission among military personnel.