Helicobacter pylori Infection Increase the Risk of Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-Analysis of 26 Studies Involving more than 20,000 Participants.
BACKGROUND
Myocardial infarction is a fatal cardiovascular disease and one of the most common death causes all around the world. The aim of the meta-analysis was to quantify the risk of myocardial infarction associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.


METHODS
A literature search was performed to identify studies published before 14 July, 2014, for relevant risk estimates. Fixed and random effect meta-analytical techniques were conducted for myocardial infarction.


RESULTS
Twenty-six case-control studies involving 5829 myocardial infarction patients and more than 16,000 controls were included. Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (OR: 2.10, 95%CI: 1.75-2.53, p = .06). We also discovered a significant association between the bacteria and risk of myocardial infarction in young people (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.41-2.66, p = .07), in elder people (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.60-2.54, p = .29), in Caucasians (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.99-2.63, p = .12), and in Asians (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.12-2.73, p = .08).


CONCLUSIONS
Our meta-analyses suggested a possible indication of relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk of myocardial infarction. The pathogenicity might not be affected by age and race. More researches should be conducted to explore the mechanisms involved.
Department of Internal Medicine, Tianjin Union Medicine Center & Tianjin People's Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Juan
J
Liu
Department of Gerontology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Feng
F
Wang
Department of Pathology, Tianjin Union Medicine Center & Tianjin People's Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Songli
S
Shi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Helicobacter pylori; coronary disease; meta-analysis; myocardial infarction