Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Nasal Polyps: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is linked to various conditions.
• H. pylori has been found in the nasal cavity.
• Existing studies on H. pylori and nasal polyps show conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between H. pylori infection and nasal polyps.
• To assess the strength of evidence linking H. pylori to nasal polyp incidence.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Electronic database search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane.
• Analysis of 12 high-quality studies.

Main Results:

• A pooled prevalence of H. pylori infection was 32.3% in the nasal polyp group versus 17.8% in controls.
• Nasal polyp patients showed a significantly higher incidence of H. pylori infection (OR 4.12), despite high heterogeneity (I² = 66%).
• Subgroup analyses in European studies and those using immunohistochemistry confirmed a significant association with reduced heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

• A positive association exists between H. pylori infection and nasal polyps.
• The findings support a link between H. pylori and the development or presence of nasal polyps.