Decreasing prevalence of helicobacter antibodies in Finland, with reference to the decreasing incidence of gastric cancer

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 126; no. 1; pp. 37 - 42
• Main Authors: REHNBERG-LAIHO, L., RAUTELIN, H., KOSKELA, P., SARNA, S., PUKKALA, E., AROMAA, A., KNEKT, P., KOSUNEN, T. U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-02-2001
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age groups; Antibodies; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Childhood; Clinics; Communities; Developed countries; Developing countries; Enzymes; Epidemiology; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gastric cancer; Geographical variation; Helicobacter; Helicobacter Infections - complications; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - immunology; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunoenzyme Techniques - methods; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunology; Incidence; Industrialized nations; Infections; Infectious diseases; LDCs; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Mobile businesses; Molecular immunology; Pregnancy; Public health; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Stomach Neoplasms - epidemiology; Stomach Neoplasms - etiology; Techniques; Time Factors; Trends; Europe; Finland; Seropositivity; Prevalence; Spirillales; Antibody; Enzyme; Reference; Spirillaceae; Malignant tumor; Enzyme immunoassay; Epidemiology; Time variation; Population decline; Incidence; Helicobacter pylori; Bacteria; Female; Geographical variation
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268801005027

Time trends and geographical variation of Helicobacter pylori antibodies in Finland were
investigated by enzyme immunoassay in 20- to 34-year-old randomly selected females from six
localities during 1969–73 (n = 375), and 15- to 45-year-old females representing nine
communities and four geographical areas in 1983 (n = 882) and 1995 (n = 842). In the six
communities investigated at three different time points, the overall prevalence declined from 38
to 12%, with an emphasis on the latter 12 years. The regionally varying rate of decrease in
helicobacter prevalence changed the pre-existing geographical variation, leaving northern
Finland with the highest rate. A 10%-units higher local helicobacter prevalence seemed to
predict a 23% (95% CI 3–44%) higher gastric cancer incidence 20 years later. The overall
decline in helicobacter seropositivity is consistent with earlier reports from Finland and other
developed countries, and supports the cohort theory as an explanation for the age-related
increase in H. pylori seroprevalence.