Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in subjects with acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection increases the risk of myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Serological evidence of H pylori infection was determined in 342 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted into the coronary care unit and in 236 population-based controls recruited from visitors to patients on medical and surgical wards.


RESULTS
206/342 (60.2%) of cases were H pylori positive compared with 132/236 (55.9%) of controls (P = 0.30). Age and sex stratified odds ratio for myocardial infarction associated with H pylori seropositivity was 1.05 (95% CI 0.7 to 1.53, P = 0.87) and this remained non-significant (P = 0.46) when other risk factors for ischaemic heart disease were taken into account using logistic regression analysis. H pylori seropositivity was not associated with several coronary risk factors in either cases or controls.


CONCLUSIONS
No increase was found in H pylori seropositivity in subjects with acute myocardial infarction. This suggests that previous H pylori infection is not a major risk factor for acute myocardial infarction.
Rathbone
B
B
Department of Gastroenterology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
Martin
D
D
Stephens
J
J
Thompson
J R
JR
Samani
N J
NJ
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000382:microbiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors