Table 3: Helicobacter Pylori IgG seroprevalence in the 15-64 y age range and gastric cancer death rates by sex, and bracken occurrence in or around pasturelands in selected districts of western Venezuela comprising a 0-3000 m elevation gradient.

Hp IgG prevalence(%)a GC odds ratio (CL95%)b
Location (elevation m) Males Females Males Females Frequency of brackenc
Cabimas (10 m) 94.6 82.4 1.0 1.0 none
El Vigía (110 m) 86.2 64.7 4.6 (2.0-7.3) 3.2 (0.4-6.8) x
Santa Cruz (590 m) 74.1 80.8 5.4 (2.3-8.5) 6.3 (5.8-7.8) xx
Tovar (950 m) 76.0 84.7 7.8 (5.5-10.2) 8.0 (5.0-11.2) xxx
Bailadores (1720) 90.3 70.7 8.5 (2.8-14.0) 5.7 (4.1-10.5) xxx
Mucuchíes (2950) 92.3 72.9 4.1 (1.9-6.4) 5.01 (3.5-5.0) x

aSex standardized death rates due to gastric cancer was diagnosed by reporting physician in death certificate; bOdds ratios were calculated against Zulia State GC (gastric cancer) rates using the population of this Federal entity: 2,781,000 (1999) as standard; cRelative frequency of bracken sightings during surveys in the visited districts: x: occasional to 20%; xx: 21-50%; xxx: > 50% (See text for details).