Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus infections and the cardiovascular risk profile in patients with diabetes mellitus: results of a population-based study:

Seroprevalence and susceptibility to hepatitis A in the European Union and European Economic Area: a systematic review

Most of the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) is considered a region of very low hepatitis A virus (HAV) endemicity; however, geographical differences exist. We did a systematic review with the aim of describing seroprevalence and susceptibility in the general population or special groups in the EU and EEA. We searched databases and public health national institutes websites for HAV seroprevalence records published between Jan 1, 1975, and June 30, 2014, with no language restrictions. An updated search was done on Aug 10, 2016. We defined seroprevalence profiles (very low, low, and intermediate) as the proportion of the population with age-specific anti-HAV antibodies at age 15 and 30 years, and susceptibility profiles (low, moderate, high, and very high) as the proportion of susceptible individuals at age 30 and 50 years. We included 228 studies from 28 of 31 EU and EEA countries. For the period 2000-14, 24 countries had a very low seroprevalence profile, compared with five in 1975-89. The susceptibility among adults ranged between low and very high and had a geographical gradient, with three countries in the low susceptibility category. Since 1975, EU and EEA countries have shown decreasing seropositivity; however, considerable regional variability exists. The main limitations of this study are that the studies retrieved for analysis might not be representative of all EU and EEA publications about HAV and might have poor national representativeness. A large proportion of EU and EEA residents are now susceptible to HAV infection. Our Review supports the need to reconsider specific prevention and control measures, to further decrease HAV circulation while providing protection against the infection in the EU and EEA, and could be used to inform susceptible travellers visiting EU and EEA countries with different HAV endemicity levels.

Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of acute coronary syndrome: a nationwide retrospective cohort study

Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI) imposes substantial social costs and is of major etiological importance in peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, and accelerated cardiovascular diseases. This study determined the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) associated with HPI in a nationwide retrospective cohort study. By using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we identified patients diagnosed with HPI from 1998 to 2010. In addition, we randomly selected non-HPI controls frequency-matched by age, sex, and index year from the general population free of HPI. The risk of ACS was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models in which sex, age, and comorbidities were included as variables. We identified 17,075 participants for the HPI group and selected 68,300 participants for the comparison group. The incidence rates were increased in the patients in the HPI group compared with those in the comparison group. Overall, the HPI patients exhibited a 1.93-fold high crude hazard ratio for ACS, and a 1.48-fold adjusted hazard ratio after age, sex, and comorbidities were adjusted. However, the overall adjusted hazard ratio of ACS increased with increasing age with a 3.11 to 8.24 adjusted hazard ratio among the various age groups. Several comorbidities, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and COPD exhibited synergistic effects for ACS risk. We determined a significant association between ACS and comorbidities and provide evidence to encourage clinicians to observe ACS-related comorbidities.

Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with diabetic complications: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND. Helicobacter pylori (HP) infects more than half of the world's population. The aim of the study was to quantify the association between HP and the risk of diabetic complications.

METHODS

A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 1998 and 2012 for relevant risk estimates. Fixed and random effect meta-analytical techniques were conducted for ischemic heart disease, retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included. HP was associated with an increase risk of nephropathy and neuropathy (relative risk [RR]: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.06-1.73, p = 0.45 and RR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.40, p = 0.29). We also discovered significant associations between bacterial infection and nephropathy risk in Oriental people (RR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.19-2.50, p = 0.82) and in type 2 diabetic patients (RR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.11-2.02, p = 0.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analyses suggest a possible relationship between HP and the risk of nephropathy and neuropathy. Our results also suggest that the effect of HP on the risk of nephropathy is stronger in Oriental people and in type 2 DM patients.

Helicobacter pylori cytotoxin-associated gene-A antibodies do not predict complications or death in type 2 diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study

OBJECTIVES

There is cross-sectional evidence that CagA antigen produced by Helicobacter pylori is associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation (AF) and microalbuminuria, but no large-scale longitudinal studies have been conducted in diabetic patients. We aimed to determine whether cytotoxin-associated gene-A (CagA) seropositivity is independently associated with important vascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We studied 1179 type 2 patients from a well characterized community-based cohort who had available sera from baseline assessment between 1993 and 1996, and follow-up for incident events to end-June 2007. H. pylori IgG and CagA antibodies at baseline were measured by validated ELISA. Multiple logistic/linear regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards modelling were used to determine independent baseline associates of prevalent and incident complications, respectively, including H. pylori/CagA serostatus.

RESULTS

At baseline, 62.0% of patients were H. pylori seropositive and 37.7% were both H. pylori and CagA seropositive. CagA seropositivity was not independently associated with prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), peripheral arterial disease or AF at baseline (P > 0.41), but there was a significant inverse association with ln(urinary albumin:creatinine) (P = 0.033). There were no independent associations between CagA seropositivity and incident CHD/CVD or progression to microalbuminuria (P > 0.20). During follow-up, 480 patients (40.7%) died, 246 (50.2%) from cardiovascular causes. After adjustment for other variables,CagA seropositivity was weakly protective against cardiovascular death (P = 0.024).

CONCLUSION

CagA seropositivity is not a risk factor for chronic vascular complications of type 2 diabetes. Assay of CagA antibodies does not contribute significantly to clinical management outside gastroenterological indications.

Antiplatelet therapy, Helicobacter pylori infection and complicated peptic ulcer disease in diabetes: the Fremantle Diabetes Study

AIMS

To assess whether, based on its relationship with complications of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), directed Helicobacter pylori serological screening is justified in diabetic patients prior to commencement of antiplatelet therapy.

METHODS

We analysed data from the longitudinal, community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study (FDS). The present substudy included (i) 1301 patients (91.2% of the total FDS sample; mean age 62.0 +/- 13.3 years, 49.5% male) with available sera from baseline assessment between 1993 and 1996, and (ii) a subset of 40 patients admitted to hospital for complicated PUD (bleeding and/or perforation) between baseline and end of June 2006. All hospital admissions for complicated PUD in the population of Western Australia were identified over the same period. Helicobacter pylori IgG antibodies were measured in all patients at baseline and in the subset at the FDS visit prior to hospital admission.

RESULTS

Helicobacter pylori seropositivity was present in 60.6% of FDS patients at baseline and was independently associated with increasing age and non-Anglo-Celt/non-Asian ethnicity. There were 2.9 (95% confidence interval 2.1, 3.9) first admissions for complicated PUD per 1000 patient-years, an incidence more than seven times that in the local general population. Independent baseline predictors of hospital admission were increasing age, serum urea, non-aspirin anticoagulant therapy, sulphonylurea therapy, peripheral arterial disease and diabetic retinopathy, but not aspirin use, H. pylori seropositivity or their interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

There are diabetes-specific risk factors for complicated PUD, including sulphonylurea use and vascular complications. Knowledge of H. pylori serological status does not predict complicated PUD in diabetes regardless of use of antiplatelet therapy.

Helicobacter pylori and extragastric diseases--other Helicobacters

The involvement of Helicobacter pylori in the pathogenesis of extragastric diseases continues to be an interesting topic in the field of Helicobacter-related pathology. Although conflicting findings have been reported for most of the disorders, a role of H. pylori seems to be important especially for the development of cardiovascular and hematologic disorders. Previously isolated human and animal Helicobacter sp. flexispira and "Helicobacter heilmannii" strains have been validated using polyphasic taxonomy. A novel enterohepatic Helicobacter has been isolated from mastomys and mice, adding to the list of helicobacters that colonize the liver. Genetic targets that may aid the classification of novel Helicobacter species have emerged. Animal models of Helicobacter-induced gastric and hepatobiliary diseases have offered insights to the mechanisms associated with premalignant transformation.