Characterization of risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection among men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic: lack of evidence for sexual transmission
The mechanism of transmission of Helicobacter pylori is unknown. To investigate the role of sexual behavior and demographic factors in the acquisition of H. pylori infection, we evaluated the seroprevalence of antibody to H. pylori in 370 men attending an urban sexually transmitted diseases clinic. Sera from the following three groups were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G: 78 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive homosexual men, 102 HIV-seronegative homosexual men, and 190 HIV-seronegative heterosexual men. Overall, the seroprevalence of H. pylori was 100 of 370 men (27%), with rates of 18% in HIV-seropositive homosexual men and 20% in HIV-seronegative homosexual men versus 35% in heterosexual men (P less than 0.005, chi 2 test). By ethnic group, 21 (12%) of 181 Caucasian men, 40 (41%) of 97 black men, and 37 (43%) of 87 Hispanic men were seropositive (P less than 0.001, chi 2 test). Multivariate analysis revealed that race was associated with H. pylori seropositivity independent of HIV status, sexual preference, or age. There was no relationship between H. pylori seropositivity and the number of lifetime sexual partners or previous sexually transmitted diseases. Three HIV-seropositive men with H. pylori immunoglobulin G had essentially identical antibody titers over 8 to 16 months of follow-up. In conclusion, black and Hispanic men have significantly higher H. pylori seroprevalence rates than do Caucasian men, but neither sexual behavior nor HIV infection influences the presence or persistence of H. pylori antibody. Further evaluation of the factors associated with these ethnic differences may lead to a better understanding of H. pylori acquisition and transmission.
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 1. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 07 July 2019.
All research outputs
#17,289,387
of 25,377,790 outputs
Outputs from Journal of Clinical Microbiology
#12,613
of 14,318 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#15,245
of 16,424 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Journal of Clinical Microbiology
#76
of 78 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,377,790 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 21st percentile – i.e., 21% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 14,318 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 7.9. This one is in the 8th percentile – i.e., 8% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 16,424 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 3rd percentile – i.e., 3% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 78 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
