Relation between Helicobacter pylori infection, thyroid hormone levels and cardiovascular risk factors on blood donors.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, serum thyroid hormone levels and certain cardiovascular risk factors in normal volunteers. In 110 blood donors (85 men, 25 women, aged 35.6 +/- 9.76) the serum levels of IgG antibodies against Hp were estimated using a sensitive immunoassay. Serum estimation of T3, T4, TSH, FT3, FT4, thyroid (microsomial) autoantibodies, C-Reactive-Protein, a1-acid-glycoprotein, vitamin B12, folic acid, cholesterol, triglycerides, total lipids, HDL, LDL, and antibodies against hepatitis A, was also carried-out. In all subjects a number of clinicoepidemiological parameters including body mass index, smoking habits, educational level, number of siblings and presence of symptoms from the digestive system were carefully recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. Helicobacter pylori infection was found in 54 subjects (49.1%). On univariate analysis, significant differences between subjects positive and negative for Helicobacter pylori infection were found for FreeT3 (3.11 +/- 0.5 pmol/ vs. 3.42 +/- 0.8 pmol/l, P=0.025), FreeT4 (1.04 +/- 0.2 ng/dl vs. 1.17 +/- 0.3 ng/dl, P=0.025), and thyroid autoanti bodies (23.65 +/- 24 vs. 14.97 +/- 8, P=0.018). Significant differences were also found for Cholesterol (207.8 +/- 39 mg/dl vs. 193.3 +/- 40 md/dl, P=0.05), LDL (133.2 +/- 32 mg/dl vs. 119.6 +/- 40 mg/dl, P=0.05) and folic acid (7.66 +/- 3.7 ng/ml vs. 6.39 +/- 2.5 ng/ml, P=0.038). A significantly positive correlation of Hp infection with age and number of siblings and a negative one with educational level were noticed. No differences concerning the levels of acute phase proteins, vitamin B12, antibodies against hepatitis A, body mass index, and smoking habits were found. On logistic regression analysis, significant differences remained only for thyroid autoantibodies (Odds ratio for titer ?30: 7.8, P=0.012), age (Odds Ratio for those aged >40 years vs those aged <40 years: 3.8, P=0.022) and educational level (Odds ratio for elementary 8.7 and moderate 5.1 vs higher education, P=0.003 and P=0.011 respectively). It is concluded that a relationship exist between Hp infection and the presence of high titers of thyroid autoantibodies in blood donors. There are no indications of the existence of a relationship between Hp infection with thyroid hormone levels, lipid concentrations and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Helicobacter pylori infection in hospital workers over a 5-year period: correlation with demographic and clinical parameters.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine whether any of various groups of medical and nonmedical staff in a large acute care hospital were at increased risk of acquiring Helicobacter pylori infection over a 5-year period, and we also aimed to identify risk factors or symptoms related to H. pylori positivity and seroconversion. METHODS: A total number of 437 subjects, aged 36.8 +/- 7.7 years (range, 23-60 years)-employees of our hospital-were tested by immunoassay for serum IgG antibodies against H. pylori. Subjects were assigned to four main groups: (I) nursing staff ( n = 249; aged 34.7 +/- 7 years); (II) administrative and technical staff ( n = 127; aged 39.2 +/- 8.1 years); (III) medical staff ( n = 31; aged 42.4 +/- 4.9 years); and (IV) paramedical staff (blood donor department) ( n = 30; aged 37.6 +/- 8.5 years). Differences in age and educational level between these four groups were statistically highly significant ( P < 0.0001). Each subject completed a questionnaire containing several clinical and demographic parameters. The same cohort of individuals was tested 5 years later. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was 45.5%, and in each group (I, II, III, and IV) being 48.6%, 44.1%, 41.9%, and 30% respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of infection by H. pylori was significantly higher in group I compared with group II (odds ratio [OR], 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-3.52; P = 0.037). The H. pylori positivity increased with age: 40.6% for those aged 23-40 years and 57.5% for those aged 41-60 years ( P = 0.001). The level of education was inversely associated with H. pylori infection ( P = 0.001). During the 5-year observation, 59 of 238 (24.8%) subjects initially negative for H. pylori infection became positive, thus giving an annual seroconversion rate of 4.95%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the seroconversion rate was significantly higher in group I compared with group II (28.1% vs 21.1%; OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.08-5.07; P = 0.03). The rate of seroconversion was higher in subjects aged 35-55 years compared with subjects aged 23-34 years (32% vs 17.5%; P= 0.009). Subjects who were positive for H. pylori infection in both examinations had a higher percentage of heartburn ( P = 0.029), regurgitation ( P = 0.023), and nausea ( P= 0.037) compared with those who were negative in both examinations. Differences between those who were continuously negative for H. pylori infection and those who seroconverted during the observation period were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: In this longitudinal study of workers in a large acute care hospital in Greece it was found that nursing staff had a significantly higher risk of infection compared with administrative and technical staff. Age was significantly positively related both to H. pylori infection and to seroconversion. The level of education was strongly related to the prevalence, but not to the incidence of H. pylori infection. The presence of infection over the time was associated with a higher percentage of heartburn, regurgitation, and nausea compared with subjects who were continuously negative for H. pylori infection.