Systemic impact of Helicobacter pylori: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Helicobacter pylori is an oncobacteria that infects about half of the world's population and has a well-established role in the etiology of gastric diseases. Lately, this infection has also been associated with extragastric diseases, such as neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular, metabolic, hematological, and dermatological comorbidities. Elucidating risk factors for comorbidities can contribute to reducing mortality and public health costs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the association between H. pylori infection and extragastric comorbidities. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional hospital-based case–control study that was conducted in Goiás from 2019 to 2022. The study patients were classified into H. pylori-negative and H. pylori-positive groups. Results: A total of 156 participants were included in the study, and the prevalence of the bacteria was 45.5%. In the H. pylori-positive group, the most frequent diseases were hypertension, anemia, rheumatic disease, and diabetes. The presence of comorbidities was similar between the groups, with the exception of psychiatric illnesses. The male patients were more likely to be infected with H. pylori (odds ratios [ORs] = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.26–5.50), while the H. pylori-positive group was less likely to have psychiatric illnesses (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11–0.92). Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 45.5%, and males were more likely to be infected by the bacteria. The most frequent comorbidities in the H. pylori-positive group were hypertension, anemia, rheumatic disease, and diabetes. H. pylori-negative patients were more likely to have psychiatric illnesses.