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).