Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A risk factor for Helicobacter pylori infection: A hospital based case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in diabetic and non-diabetic patients and to compare the frequency of H. pylori infection in both groups.


METHODS
Case control.


METHODS
Department of Medicine, Liaquat University Hospital from October 2007 to March 2008.


METHODS
This hospital-based case-control study was conducted on 148 subjects and divided into two groups i.e. type 2 diabetics and non-diabetics; each group consisting of 74 patients. All diabetic patients of >/= 35 years of age, both gender and the known cases with history of dyspepsia, epigastric pain or bloating for more than a month were screened for Helicobacter pylori infection. The collected data of both groups was evaluated and separated for analysis.


RESULTS
Majority of the patients were male with mean age +/- SD, 52.86 +/- 8.51. Among the diabetic group, HpSA was positive in 54/74 (73%), whereas in the non-diabetic group HpSA was positive in 38/74 (51.4%) cases. Fasting blood glucose was identified as low in 04 (5.40%) H. pylori infected - diabetic patients where as the blood glucose level of 07 (9.45%) known diabetic patients was raised despite the ongoing medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetic patients are more prone and at risk to acquire H. Pylori infection. Therefore proper monitoring of blood glucose level and screening for H. pylori infection are effective preventive measures for this life threatening infection.
Devrajani
Bikha Ram
BR
Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro/Hyderabad (LUMHS), Pakistan.
Shah
Syed Zulfiquar Ali
SZ
Soomro
Aftab Ahmed
AA
Devrajani
Tarachand
T