[Helicobacter pylori infection and its association with alcohol consumption: a case-control study]

There is a high prevalence worldwide of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection associated with gastritis and extending to gastric cancer. Reports have suggested that alcohol has antibacterial action and that its concentration and the amount consumed reduce the risk for Hp infection. In contrast, different studies suggest that tobacco and coffee consumption are risk factors for Hp infection, but their results are controversial.

To compare the frequency of alcohol consumption in patients infected by Hp with that of non-infected subjects and, as a secondary aim, to compare the association of smoking and coffee consumption with Hp infection.

A case-control study was conducted on Sinaloa State workers that underwent endoscopy and the Hp serology test. Cases were defined as patients with a positive Hp serology test or a positive biopsy with the rapid urease test. Alcohol consumption was categorized as: no consumption, low-risk, and at-risk. The sample included 269 subjects per group. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

In both groups, the mean age of the subjects was 45.7 (SD: 9) years (P=.99), 139 of the subjects were women (51.7%) and 130 were men (48.3%); alcohol consumption was present in 108 (40.1%) and 85 (31.6%) of the cases and controls, respectively (P=.039), OR 1.45 (95%CI 1.019-2.069). The quantity of grams of alcohol in subjects with at-risk consumption was significant; However, there were no significant differences in relation to smoking and coffee consumption between the groups.

An association between alcohol consumption and HP infection was observed and no relation with HP infection was found with respect to smoking and coffee consumption.