Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and arterial stiffness: Results from a large cross-sectional study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 8; p. e0221643
• Main Authors: Choi, Ji Min, Lim, Seon Hee, Han, Yoo Min, Lee, Heesun, Seo, Ji Yeon, Park, Hyo Eun, Kwak, Min-Sun, Chung, Goh Eun, Choi, Su-Yeon, Kim, Joo Sung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 29.08.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Age Factors; Antibodies; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Antibodies, Bacterial - immunology; Atherosclerosis; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomarkers; Blood cholesterol; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Development and progression; Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Helicobacter infections; Helicobacter Infections - complications; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter Infections - microbiology; Helicobacter Infections - physiopathology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Infection; Inflammation; Low density lipoproteins; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Physical Sciences; Prevalence; Public Health Surveillance; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Vascular Stiffness
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221643

Chronic systemic inflammation is an important causative factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, the effect of chronic Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection on arterial stiffness, a predictor of cardiovascular events, remains unclear. We evaluated the association between Hp infection and arterial stiffness in asymptomatic healthy individuals. Arterial stiffness was evaluated using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). We included subjects who underwent CAVI and anti-Hp IgG antibody evaluations, simultaneously, between March 2013 and July 2017. Demographic characteristics and metabolic and cardiovascular parameters were compared with respect to anti-Hp IgG antibody status. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the effect of Hp-seropositivity and conventional cardiovascular risk factors on arterial stiffness. Of 2,251 subjects, 1,326 (58.9%) were included in the Hp-seropositive group. Median age (P < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.027) were significantly higher in the Hp-seropositive than in the Hp-seronegative group. Levels of LDL-cholesterol were significantly higher in the Hp-seropositive than in the Hp-seronegative group (P = 0.016). Other serum metabolic parameters were not significantly different between the two groups. The median CAVI value and the proportion of subjects with a CAVI ≥ 8 were significantly higher in the Hp-seropositive than in the Hp-seronegative group (both P < 0.001). On multivariable logistic regression analyses, Hp-seropositivity, age, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were significantly associated with high CAVI values. In the subgroup analysis conducted according to age group, a tendency towards an increased association between Hp-seropositivity and CAVI was observed with increasing age, even though the difference did not reach the statistical significance. Hp-seropositivity was significantly associated with arterial stiffness. Hp infection may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases.