Loading...
Helicobacter pylori infection has been associated with a variety of diseases in large case-control studies. Now, investigators have assessed its relationship with all-cause mortality using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III, a population-based, prospective study of adults and children in the U.S.
Researchers conducted antibody testing in 9895 participants to determine the presence of H. pylori and its strain (CagA-positive or CagA-negative) and collected data on all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Analyses were limited to participants aged >40 years. Results were as follows.
No association between H. pylori infection or CagA positivity and all-cause mortality
Inverse associations between H. pylori infection and CagA positivity and cardiovascular disease (not statistically significant)
Inverse association between presence of CagA-positive H. pylori infection and stroke mortality
Strong association between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer mortality
The authors conclude that H. pylori colonization is not a major risk factor for all-cause mortality. They note the positive association with gastric cancer mortality and the negative association of CagA-positive H. pylori infection with stroke mortality. They suggest that H. pylori infection may have a mixed effect on human health.
Chen Y et al. Association between Helicobacter pylori and mortality in the NHANES III study. Gut 2013 Sep; 62:1262. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2012-303018)
Comment
As in previous studies of the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and various diseases, results were mixed. The observed absences of associations may be due to small numbers of cases for some cancers and diseases. However, the negative association with stroke mortality warrants further evaluation.