Helicobacter pylori is a causative agent of several gastric diseases and its presence in asymptomatic individuals is a continuous threat to acquire symptomatic diseases. The objective of the study was to investigate the seroprevalence rate and linked factors in asymptomatic individuals of northern districts of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 to August 2021 including 600 participants. Seropositivity was tested through H. pylori strip from collected serum and data was collected through questionnaire. Univariate analysis was carried out for association of factors with seropositivity, and associated factors were predicted using regression model. The H. pylori infection rate is highest in District Swat with 50% seropositivity found in asymptomatic individuals (p=0.002, OR: 0.398 CI 0.213 – 0.714). Out of the total tested individuals, 28.7% were found to be H. pylori positive. A significantly higher infection rate was observed in positive family members (80.0%, p = 0.04). A regression model gives an OR of 1.147 (CI: 0.942 - 1.396) of seropositivity in household members. A positive family member could be a potential source of transmitting H. pylori infection in individuals as the course of transmission is oral or oral-fecal. Therefore, studies on large cohort for investigation of seropositivity in household members would be beneficial.

Keywords: H. pylori, Seroprevalence, Asymptomatic, Northern Pakistan