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Acute myocardial infarction and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity
R Pellicano1, M G Mazzarello, S Morelloni
1Department of Gastroenterology, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection is more common in men with acute myocardial infarction. This common bacterium may be a significant risk factor for heart attacks, independent of traditional cardiovascular risks.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) has known epidemiological variations not fully explained by classical risk factors.
- Infectious agents, such as Helicobacter pylori, are increasingly investigated for their potential role in CHD pathogenesis.
- Helicobacter pylori is a common bacterium with established links to gastrointestinal diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a male population.
- To compare the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in AMI patients versus a control group of blood donors.
- To assess the role of Helicobacter pylori infection independently of classical cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted with 44 male patients (aged 40-65) admitted for AMI and a control group of 310 male blood donors matched for age and sex.
- Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by measuring immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in blood serum.
- Classical cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, cholesterol, glucose levels, fibrinogen, smoking habits, and social class were evaluated in all participants.
Main Results:
- Helicobacter pylori infection was significantly more prevalent in AMI patients (77%) compared to controls (59%) (P<0.05).
- The odds ratio for AMI associated with Helicobacter pylori infection was 2.36 (95% confidence interval: 1.08-5.31).
- No significant differences in classical cardiovascular risk factors were observed between AMI patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection.
Conclusions:
- Patients with acute myocardial infarction exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.
- Helicobacter pylori infection appears to be an independent risk factor for acute myocardial infarction, separate from traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms linking Helicobacter pylori to cardiovascular disease.
Abstract:
Infectious agents including Helicobacter pylori, have been linked to coronary heart diseases on epidemiological and pathogenetic grounds. Classical risk factors fail to explain all the epidemiological variations of the disease. Our aim was to investigate the association of acute myocardial infarction with Helicobacter pylori infection in a case-control study by comparing a group of male patients with a control group of blood donors matched for sex and age. We investigated the classical cardiovascular risk factors in all patients. We studied 44 consecutive male patients, aged 40-65 years, admitted for acute myocardial infarction to the Coronary Care Unit at Novi Ligure Hospital in northern Italy. Helicobacter pylori infection was assessed by measurement of antibodies (IgG) against Helicobacter pylori in blood. Volunteer blood donors attending Molinette Hospital Blood Bank in Turin, northern Italy served as controls. Among the patients we investigated the presence of hypertension, cholesterol and glucose levels in serum, fibrinogen in plasma, smoking habits, and social class. Helicobacter pylori infection was present in 34 of 44 (77%) patients and in 183 of 310 (59%) controls (P<0.05); the odds ratio was 2.36 (95% confidence interval 1.08-5.31). Classical cardiovascular risk factors did not differ among patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection. In conclusion, patients with acute myocardial infarction had a significantly higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection than the control population. The classical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were equally distributed among patients irrespective of their Helicobacter pylori status.