title: Helicobacter pylori and anemia: a community-based cross-sectional study among adults in Southern Brazil.
abstract: To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori and anemia, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 18-45 year old users of the 31 primary health care units in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Interviews using a structured questionnaire were carried out in waiting rooms during two work shifts. Anemia (hemoglobin < 11g/dL among pregnant women, < 12g/dL among women and < 13g/dL among men) was diagnosed from capillary blood (HemoCue) and H. pylori by means of a 13C-UBT. Information on socio-demographic, behavioral and biological characteristics was collected. Logistic and linear regression analyses were carried out, taking into account aggregated primary health care units. A total of 1,117 respondents fulfilled the inclusion criteria (losses/refusals: 8.1%). Prevalence of anemia was 20.6% (18.2-23.2%) and of H. pylori, 70.7% (68.0-73.6%). After allowing for age, sex and skin color the odds ratio for anemia among those who were diagnosed H. pylori positive was 0.94 (0.70-1.27). After allowing for sex, skin color, family monthly income, age, and smoking, the reduction in hemoglobin among H. pylori positive respondents was 0.07g/dL (-0.24-0.11; p = 0.4). There is no association between H. pylori and anemia among adults attending primary health care units in Southern Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rua Marechal Deodoro 1160, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Iná S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Gicele Costa
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Minten
authors.forename: Neiva C J
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: Giovana Costa
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tuerlinckx
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boccio
authors.forename: Domingo Andrés
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Barrado
authors.forename: Alessandra Banaszeski da
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Guilherme Augusto Reissig
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult