Abstract
Aims: We intended to report H. pylori seroprevalence and identify socio-demographic risk factors in dyspeptic patients and non-dyspeptic control subjects of Islamabad, Pakistan.Methodology: Subjects were analyzed in two study groups; Dyspeptic patients on the basis of Rome III criteria (n=196) and non-dyspeptic control subjects (n=118). H. pylori status was determined using a commercial ELISA kit and its association was determined with risk factors such as age, sex, body mass index, marital status, educational level, residence, income group, use of NSAIDs and tobacco.Results: Our results showed similar seroprevalence of about 53% in both the groups. Low education (p=.03) and lower socioeconomic status (p=.03) were significant predictors of H. pylori seropositivity in dyspeptic patients whereas increasing age (p<.001), lower education (p =.04) and married status (p=.02) were significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity in non-dyspeptic controls.Conclusions: Lower education and low socioeconomic status are significant risk factors in dyspeptic patients as compared to old age, lower education and married subjects in non-dyspeptic control subjects.