Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica

INTRODUCTION: Costa Rica has among the highest mortality rates from gastric cancer in the world, largely due to late detection. It is therefore important that economically and logistically sustainable screening is implemented in order to detect risk of developing cancer. We have previously shown tha...

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Main Authors: Clas Une, Wendy Malespín Bendaña, Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga, Luis Rosero Bixby, Rafaela Sierra Ramos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Costa Rica 2022-01-01
Series:Población y Salud en Mesoamérica
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Online Access:https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/psm/article/view/49405
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author Clas Une
Wendy Malespín Bendaña
Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga
Luis Rosero Bixby
Rafaela Sierra Ramos
author_facet Clas Une
Wendy Malespín Bendaña
Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga
Luis Rosero Bixby
Rafaela Sierra Ramos
author_sort Clas Une
collection DOAJ
description INTRODUCTION: Costa Rica has among the highest mortality rates from gastric cancer in the world, largely due to late detection. It is therefore important that economically and logistically sustainable screening is implemented in order to detect risk of developing cancer. We have previously shown that low pepsinogen (PG) values and infection with Helicobacter pylori-CagA+ are associated with risk of gastric atrophy and cancer in Costa Rican populations.  OBJECTIVES: To determine how markers for gastric cancer risk are distributed in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica in order to design a screening strategy. METHODS: The population studied consists of 2,652 participants in a nationally representative survey of ageing. Information concerning epidemiologic, demographic, nutritional and life style factors is available. Serum PG concentrations as well as H. pylori and CagA status were determined by serology. Possible associations were determined by regression analyses. RESULTS: Antibodies to H. pylori were present in 72% of the population and of those, 58% were CagA positive. Infection with H. pylori was associated with higher PGI concentrations (p=0.000) and infection with H. pylori-CagA+ with lower PGI concentrations (p=0.025). Both showed association with lower PGI/PGII (p=0.006 and p=0.000). Higher age was associated with lower prevalence of H. pylori infection (OR=0.98; p=0.000) and CagA+ (OR=0.98; p=0.000) but not with PG values. Regions with high risk of gastric cancer showed lower PGI (p=0.004) and PGI/PGII values (p=0.021) as well as higher prevalence of H. pylori infection (OR=1.39; p=0.013) but not CagA+. Using cut-off values of PGI<100 µg/L and PGI/PGII<2.0, 2.5 and 3.0, 7-15% of the population would be considered at risk. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori alone is not a useful marker for risk of gastric cancer. Screening using serum pepsinogen concentrations and infection with H. pylori-CagA+ is feasible in the general elderly population of Costa Rica but appropriate cut-off values have to be determined based on more clinical data and follow up capacity.
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spelling doaj-art-e2d4ca26dc7149b78a25a84030f290342025-08-20T02:28:00ZengUniversidad de Costa RicaPoblación y Salud en Mesoamérica1659-02012022-01-011910.15517/psm.v0i19.49405Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa RicaClas Une0Wendy Malespín Bendaña1Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga2Luis Rosero Bixby3Rafaela Sierra Ramos4Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, Universidad de Costa Rica, COSTA RICAInstituto de Investigaciones en Salud, Universidad de Costa Rica, COSTA RICAInstituto de Investigaciones en Salud, Universidad de Costa Rica, COSTA RICAUniversidad de Costa Rica, San José, COSTA RICAInstituto de Investigaciones en Salud, Universidad de Costa Rica, COSTA RICAINTRODUCTION: Costa Rica has among the highest mortality rates from gastric cancer in the world, largely due to late detection. It is therefore important that economically and logistically sustainable screening is implemented in order to detect risk of developing cancer. We have previously shown that low pepsinogen (PG) values and infection with Helicobacter pylori-CagA+ are associated with risk of gastric atrophy and cancer in Costa Rican populations.  OBJECTIVES: To determine how markers for gastric cancer risk are distributed in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica in order to design a screening strategy. METHODS: The population studied consists of 2,652 participants in a nationally representative survey of ageing. Information concerning epidemiologic, demographic, nutritional and life style factors is available. Serum PG concentrations as well as H. pylori and CagA status were determined by serology. Possible associations were determined by regression analyses. RESULTS: Antibodies to H. pylori were present in 72% of the population and of those, 58% were CagA positive. Infection with H. pylori was associated with higher PGI concentrations (p=0.000) and infection with H. pylori-CagA+ with lower PGI concentrations (p=0.025). Both showed association with lower PGI/PGII (p=0.006 and p=0.000). Higher age was associated with lower prevalence of H. pylori infection (OR=0.98; p=0.000) and CagA+ (OR=0.98; p=0.000) but not with PG values. Regions with high risk of gastric cancer showed lower PGI (p=0.004) and PGI/PGII values (p=0.021) as well as higher prevalence of H. pylori infection (OR=1.39; p=0.013) but not CagA+. Using cut-off values of PGI<100 µg/L and PGI/PGII<2.0, 2.5 and 3.0, 7-15% of the population would be considered at risk. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori alone is not a useful marker for risk of gastric cancer. Screening using serum pepsinogen concentrations and infection with H. pylori-CagA+ is feasible in the general elderly population of Costa Rica but appropriate cut-off values have to be determined based on more clinical data and follow up capacity.https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/psm/article/view/49405gastric canceratrophic gastritispepsinogensHelicobacter pylori
spellingShingle Clas Une
Wendy Malespín Bendaña
Vanessa Ramírez-Mayorga
Luis Rosero Bixby
Rafaela Sierra Ramos
Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
Población y Salud en Mesoamérica
gastric cancer
atrophic gastritis
pepsinogens
Helicobacter pylori
title Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
title_full Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
title_fullStr Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
title_full_unstemmed Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
title_short Helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of Costa Rica
title_sort helicobacter pylori infection and serum pepsinogen concentrations in an elderly population representative of costa rica
topic gastric cancer
atrophic gastritis
pepsinogens
Helicobacter pylori
url https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/psm/article/view/49405
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