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Rapid Detection of Fecal Antigen of Helicobacter pylori Infection Based on Double Antibody Sandwich Detection Technology
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Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic atrophic gastritis and major cardiovascular events: a population-based cohort

Ben Schöttker1, Mariam A Adamu, Melanie N Weck

  • 1Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. b.schoettker@dkfz-heidelberg.de

Atherosclerosis
|December 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Helicobacter pylori infection, including cagA-positive strains, does not increase cardiovascular disease or mortality risk. Interestingly, cagA-positive H. pylori infection shows an inverse association with fatal cardiovascular events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular epidemiology
  • Infectious disease research
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a primary cause of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG).
  • The link between H. pylori infection and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk remains debated.
  • CAG is also being investigated for its potential role in systemic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between H. pylori infection and CAG with cardiovascular disease and mortality.
  • To determine if H. pylori infection status, particularly with cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) strains, impacts risks for myocardial infarction, stroke, and overall mortality.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based German cohort of 9953 older adults (50-74 years) was studied.
  • Serological tests measured H. pylori infection and pepsinogen (PG) levels.
  • Cox regression analysis assessed hazard ratios (HR) for cardiovascular events and mortality over five years.

Main Results:

  • Over 50% of participants were infected with H. pylori; 5.7% had CAG.
  • No increased risk for myocardial infarction, stroke, or all-cause mortality was linked to H. pylori infection (cagA-negative or cagA-positive).
  • A significant inverse association was found between cagA-positive H. pylori infection and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.62).

Conclusions:

  • H. pylori infection and CAG are not supported as risk factors for cardiovascular disease or mortality.
  • An inverse relationship between cagA-positive H. pylori infection and fatal cardiovascular events is suggested.
  • Further research may clarify the complex interplay between H. pylori and cardiovascular health.
Abstract

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