title: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with severe anemia of pregnancy on Pemba Island, Zanzibar.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori infection has recently been associated with iron deficiency and anemia in developed countries. To determine the association of H. pylori and anemia in a tropical region, we measured hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and H. pylori infection by the 13C urea breath test among 857 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics. Parasitology, anthropometry, obstetric history, sociodemographic and dietary variables were also assessed. Logistic regression showed an odds ratio of 7.63 (95% confidence interval=1.73-33.55) for H. pylori infection comparing women with and without severe anemia (Hb<7 g/dL), controlling for hookworm infection, body mass index and parity, but only among women with a diet low in foods containing heme iron. Infection with H. pylori with low bacterial load was associated with lower Hb concentration while high bacterial load was associated with higher Hb concentration. Further research is needed to establish causality because high worldwide prevalence means that even a small associated risk would be of public health significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. tfarag@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Tamer H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Farag
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stoltzfus
authors.forename: Sabra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Khalfan
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tielsch
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins