Authors: Catherine de Martel Julie Parsonnet
Publish Date: 2006/11/07
Volume: 51, Issue: 12, Pages: 2292-2301
Abstract
Although most of Helicobacter pylori–related diseases are associated with male gender the role of gender as a risk factor for H pylori infection is still debated To assess the true association between H pylori and gender we conducted a metaanalysis of large populationbased studies where the measure of association had been adjusted at least for age and socioeconomic status and obtained primary data from authors when information on gender associations were not presented In 18 adult populations the test of heterogeneity was not significant and male gender was significantly associated with H pylori infection summary odds ratio OR 116 95 confidence interval CI 111 122 In 10 pediatric populations the test of heterogeneity was of borderline significance and the summary OR computed using a random effect model was close to 1 summary OR 103 95 CI 091 117 This study confirms the male predominance of H pylori infection in adults as a global and homogeneous phenomenon such predominance is not apparent in children Differential antibiotic exposure or differential protective immunity between genders may explain the different results observed between children and adult studiesWe thank Christopher Stave from Stanford Lane library for technical assistance We also gratefully acknowledge Drs Michael Choy Sharon Perry and ChiaoJung Tsai for their help with study selection Finally we deeply thank Drs G Barbezat H Brenner L Brown J Colett C De Giacomo P Fawcett O Herbarth M Mayr D Palli S Sasasuki JK Seo T Standberg E Steinberg Stevenson MA Stone R Tilvis C Tinelli J Torres S Tsugane M WildnerChristensen and M Woodward who kindly responded to our requests for additional data
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