Abstract
BACKGROUND: As human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) management has become more successful during the past years, the importance of non-AIDS-defining cancer such as gastric cancer has increased. Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer, and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. Chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with gastric cancer, the highest incidence of which is observed in South Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors of H. pylori infection in Korean HIV-infected patients. METHODS: In a hospital-based survey, HIV-infected patients attending Outpatient Department of Pusan National University Hospital were enrolled between October 2018 and January 2019. Socio-demographic information was evaluated using questionnaires, serological status of H. pylori infection was tested with commercial H. pylori serology kits (Helicobacter pylori IgG ELISA, IBL, Germany). RESULTS: A total of 302 patients were included in the study. Two hundred and Sixty-one patients (86.4%) were males and 41 (13.6%) were females. Their median age was 54 years (range, 23–81 years), median CD4+ count was 667 /μL (7–1,699 /μL). The overall seropositivity of H. pylori in HIV-infected patients was 30.1%. Age-specific seroprevalence was as follows: 20–29 years, 12.5%; 30–39 years, 15.6%; 40–49 years, 38.6%; 50–59 years, 36.2%; 60–69 years, 27.9%; and ≥70 years, 18.2%. A lower seroprevalence of H. pylori was observed among patients younger than 40 years; however, it was not significant (P = 0.063). The risk factors associated with H. pylori seropositivity were alcohol consumption [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17 to 3.39; P = 0.011] and CD4 cell count ≥350/μL (OR = 4.32; 95% CI 1.51–12.36; P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: HIV-infected patients had a lower seroprevalence of H. pylori compared with general population (30.1% vs. 49.1%). Alcohol consumption and CD4 cell count ≥350/μL were significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.