Background and aims: The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) prevalence in Asian
countries is highly variable, with higher seroprevalence shown in the previous
studies of developing Asian countries. We aimed to determine the current
H. pylori prevalence, correlate with gastroduodenal diseases and study gastric
cancer incidence in Nepal.
Methods: Among 3357 patients referred for endoscopy, 2820 eligible patients
underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy; H. pylori was
considered positive when either of Rapid Urease Test (RUT) or histopathology
showed positive result.
Results: The H. pylori prevalence was 29.4% in overall distribution, 41.1% in
gastritis and or duodenitis, 69.5% in gastric ulcer, 84.7% in duodenal ulcer,
20.8% in gastric polyp and 11.5% in gastric cancer. The H. pylori infection was
significantly associated with gastritis and or duodenitis [P<0.001; Odds Ratio
(OR) 1.53, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.47-1.59], gastric ulcer (P<0.001; OR
18.62, 95% CI 12.40-27.81), duodenal ulcer (P<0.001; OR 48.89, 95% CI 25.23-
94.75), gastric polyp (P=0.001; OR 7.66, 95% CI 3.18-18.44) and gastric cancer
(P=0.005; OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.82-7.86). The age-standardized (world) annual
rate of gastric cancer in Kaski district of Nepal was 3.3 per 100,000.