Serological evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection in UK South Asian and European populations: implications for gastric cancer and coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of serological evidence of infection with Helicobacter pylori among people of South Asian and European ethnic origins and to assess its association with prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: We used a quantitative method to compare IgG antibodies to H. pylori in a population sample of 300 South Asians and 302 Europeans in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. RESULTS: For men and women, respectively, H. pylori IgG (95% confidence interval) was 16.7 microg/ml (13.9, 20.2) and 11.3 (9.4, 13.5) among Europeans and 11.6 (9.8, 13.7) and 14.3 (12.1, 16.9) among South Asians. Levels were higher in older participants and in those of lower socioeconomic status. The ratio of geometric mean IgG, (95% confidence interval) adjusted for age, sex and socioeconomic status, in those with and without CHD was 1.02 (0.49, 2.11) among Europeans and 1.79 (1.01, 3.17) among South Asians. Antibodies against staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B were higher among South Asians than Europeans. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection among UK South Asians does not reflect that of their countries of origin, nor their lower prevalence of gastric cancer. The association with CHD in South Asians requires corroboration in other studies.