Helicobacter pylori infection is identified as a cardiovascular risk factor in Central Africans

Abstract

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori is now incriminated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.ObjectiveTo examine the importance of H. pylori infection as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor.MethodsTwo hundred five patients (128 with H. pylori infection [HP-seropositive] and 77 without) had a baseline assessment for other potential CVD risk factors and were followed prospectively for 10 years (1999–2008). They were assessed on a monthly basis for the outcomes of carotid plaque, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and stroke. In the HP-seropositive group, male sex and quartile 4 for IgG anti-H. pylori antibodies (anti-HP Ab) were correlated with traditional CVD risk factors, stroke, myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris.ResultsAt the baseline assessment, the levels of carotid intima-media thickness, blood fibrinogen, total cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and uric acid were higher in H. pylori-infected patients than in the uninfected group. Serum HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in the HP-seropositive group. Men had higher levels of IgG anti-HP Ab, waist circumference, blood pressure, uric acid, and total cholesterol than women. Within the HP-seropositive group, individuals in quartile 4 for IgG anti-HP Ab had higher rates of elevated fibrinogen, diabetes mellitus, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, arterial hypertension, and high total cholesterol than those in quartile 1. After adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors, H. pylori infection was the only independent predictor of incident carotid plaque (multivariate odds ratio [OR] = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–7.2; P < 0.0001) and incident acute stroke (multivariate OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.4–8.2; P < 0.0001). Within the HP-seropositive group and after adjusting for traditional CVD risk factors, male sex was the only independent predictor of incident angina pectoris (multivariate OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.6–16; P < 0.0001), incident acute stroke (multivariate OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.4–28; P < 0.0001), and acute myocardial infarction (multivariate OR = 7.2, 95% CI: 3.1–18; P < 0.0001).ConclusionOur study provides evidence for an association among known CVD risk factors, carotid plaque, stroke, and H. pylori infection. Among infected individuals, there is a significant association among severity of HP-seropositivity, male sex, and CVD. The eradication of H. pylori infection may therefore reduce the emerging burden of CVD in Africa.

Helicobacter pylori Infection is a Significant Factor Risk for Hyperhomocysteinemia in the Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

“…They also reported that this was a higher proportion in comparison with that was observed in healthy population (Rasool et al 2012). The results demonstrated that H. pylori did affect directly HCY metabolism in the liver (Cenerelli et al 2002;Longo-Mbenza et al 2012). They showed that disrupted metabolism of HCY, which was induced by H. pylori led to an increase of HCY levels similar to those found in diabetic patients.…”

<i>Helicobacter Pylori</i> Infection and Risk of Death From Cardiovascular Disease Among the Japanese Population: a Nested Case-Control Study within the JACC Study

“…The majority of previous research on the above association was conducted in Western countries [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] and findings have been inconsistent and inconclusive. It is possible, however, that variations in the study tion to H. pylori seropositivity.…”

“…The positive association of H. pylori infection with CVD was first reported in a case-control study 4) in which individuals with H. pylori seropositivity had an increased risk, approximately two-fold, of developing CVD. However, not all subsequent studies have supported these results [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . For example, a 1998 meta-analysis of 18 studies found no significant association between H. pylori and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), a major component of CVD 14) .…”

Effects of H. pylori infection on carotid intima–media thickness, serum glucose, serum uric acid, liver and kidney function in subjects with chronic alcohol ingestion

“…H. pylori infection is associated with known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, carotid plaque and stroke. And, the severity of HPseropositivity is associated with CVD [4]. Additionally, the CagApositive H. pylori strains may contribute to the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis by aggravating immune-inflammatory reactions [5].…”