H. pylori detected in 73.2% of symptomatic adults undergoing endoscopy in Douala

Histopathological examination detected Helicobacter pylori infection in 616 of 842 symptomatic adults undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at two tertiary hospitals in Douala, Cameroon, corresponding to a prevalence of 73.2%. The findings, summarized in the abstract of a cross-sectional study, also showed that infection was most frequent among patients with gastric tumors, active duodenal ulcers and active gastric ulcers.

The researchers enrolled 842 consecutive symptomatic adults referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. They collected sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and endoscopic information through a standardized questionnaire and compared enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and rapid urease testing with histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Histology served as the diagnostic gold standard, while logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with infection. Epigastric pain was the most common indication for endoscopy, reported in 59.9% of participants. Erosive lesions or ulcerations were the predominant endoscopic findings in 28.4%, and inflammatory lesions were documented in 22.3%.

ELISA showed sensitivity of 99.7%, specificity of 100.0% and diagnostic accuracy of 99.8% against histology, with almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.994). The rapid urease test had sensitivity of 88.3%, specificity of 88.5% and diagnostic accuracy of 88.4%, representing substantial agreement with histology (κ = 0.722). Infection was present in all patients with gastric tumors, 91.2% of those with active duodenal ulcers and 82.1% of those with active gastric ulcers.

Logistic regression identified several demographic, clinical and behavioral factors independently associated with infection. These included younger age, defined in the abstract as 15–32 years (adjusted odds ratio, 2.88); living in households with five members (9.83); blood group O (2.25); vomiting (12.60); investigation for anemia (16.38); and absence of medication use (4.33). These were associations in the study population and do not establish causation.

The results apply to symptomatic patients referred for endoscopy at two tertiary hospitals in Douala, not to the broader population of the city or Cameroon. Because the study was cross-sectional, it cannot determine whether the reported factors preceded infection or changes over time. The supplied evidence is an abstract from an early open-access version of the article, which states that further editorial changes may follow; confidence intervals and other detailed measures of uncertainty were not provided in the abstract.

Subject of Research: Cross-sectional assessment of H. pylori prevalence and diagnostic test performance among symptomatic adults undergoing endoscopy in Douala, Cameroon

Article Title: High prevalence and endoscopic patterns of Helicobacter pylori Infection among symptomatic adults in Douala, Cameroon: sociodemographic and behavioral correlates

Article References: Eyoum, B. B. B., Eloumou, F. S. B., Medi, C. S., Ekwala, J. R. M. N., Ntonga, C. L., Malongue, A., Fotso, C., Fotsing, S., Kamdem, C., Ateba, R. G., Kouitcheu, B. L. M., & Kuiate, J.-R. (2026). High prevalence and endoscopic patterns of Helicobacter pylori Infection among symptomatic adults in Douala, Cameroon: sociodemographic and behavioral correlates. BMC Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-14451-8

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DOI: 10.1186/s12879-026-14451-8

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Douala, Cameroon, cross-sectional study, endoscopy, histology, ELISA, rapid urease test, prevalence, endoscopic findings, High, endoscopic