Is the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and anemia age dependent?
Khitam Muhsen1, Mira Barak, Clara Henig
1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection is linked to a higher prevalence of anemia in school-aged children. This association was not found in infants, highlighting important clinical and public health implications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Nutritional Deficiencies
Background:
- The link between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and anemia in children remains unclear.
- This study investigated the association between H. pylori infection and anemia or iron deficiency in both school-age children and infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if H. pylori infection is associated with anemia or iron deficiency in school-age children and infants.
- To explore the independent effect of H. pylori infection on anemia, controlling for socioeconomic factors.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 202 Israeli Arab school-age children (6-9 years) and 197 infants.
- Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were measured; H. pylori antigens were detected in stool samples using ELISA.
- Household socioeconomic characteristics were collected via maternal interviews.
Main Results:
- Anemia prevalence was higher in H. pylori-positive versus negative school-age children (15.5% vs 5.5%) and infants (34.5% vs 29.8%).
- H. pylori infection was independently associated with a 2.8-fold higher prevalence of anemia in school-age children (adjusted PR 2.8).
- School-age children with H. pylori infection showed significantly lower hemoglobin (-0.372 g/dL) and ferritin (-6.74 μg/L) levels compared to uninfected children. No such differences were observed in infants.
Conclusions:
- H. pylori infection is significantly associated with a higher prevalence of anemia in school-age children, independent of socioeconomic status.
- This association was not observed in the infant group.
- The findings hold significant clinical and public health importance for managing childhood anemia.
Background:
The relationship between H. pylori infection and anemia in childhood is still unclear. The aim of the study was to examine the association between H. pylori infection and anemia or iron deficiency in school-age children and in infants.
Materials And Methods:
Six- to 9-year-old Israeli Arab children (N = 202) and infants (N = 197) were examined for hemoglobin and ferritin levels. ELISA was used to detect H. pylori antigens in stool specimens collected from the participants. Household characteristics were obtained through personal interviews with the mothers.
Results:
The prevalence of anemia was 15.5 versus 5.5% in H. pylori-positive and -negative school-age children, respectively and 34.5 versus 29.8% in H. pylori-positive and -negative infants, respectively. The Mantel-Haenszel age-adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 1.6 (95%CI 1.0, 2.6). In multivariate analysis controlling for socioeconomic variables, H. pylori infection was associated with 2.8 higher prevalence of anemia only in school-age children: adjusted PR 2.8 (95% CI 0.9, 9.3). The adjusted mean difference in hemoglobin levels between H. pylori infected school-age children and uninfected ones was -0.372 gr/dL (95% CI -0.704, -0.039) (p = .04). The respective mean ferritin difference was -6.74 μg/L (95% CI -13.38, -.011) (p = .04). Such differences were not found in infants.
Conclusions:
H. pylori infection is associated with higher prevalence of anemia in school-age children independently of socioeconomic variables. Such association was not observed in infants. These findings are of clinical and public health importance.
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