Association between Helicobacter pylori antibody‐positive status and extragastric diseases in Japanese junior high school students

Abstract

Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection causes various extragastric diseases. Its transmission route has still not been clarified. However, no large‐scale studies have examined the extragastric diseases caused by H. pylori in adolescents. This study aimed to examine the association of H. pylori infection with anemia, serum cholesterol levels, physique, and birth delivery method (vaginal or cesarean) in a large number of Japanese adolescents. Methods From 2016 to 2018, we screened 2,399 adolescents (aged 13–15 years) in their second and third years of junior high school using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay‐based antibody test. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and serum antibody levels were measured. Results Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly lower in the H. pylori antibody‐positive group than in the H. pylori antibody‐negative group in both sexes (boys: P = 0.0004 and 0.0022; girls: P = 0.0019 and 0.0005, respectively). Total cholesterol and non‐HDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the H. pylori‐positive group than in the H. pylori‐negative group among boys (P = 0.0370 and 0.0293 respectively). There was no significant difference in body mass index percentile and birth delivery method between the H. pylori‐positive and H. pylori‐negative groups in both boys and girls. Conclusions Among Japanese junior high school students, H. pylori antibody‐positive status was associated with anemia in both sexes while total cholesterol and non‐HDL cholesterol levels were associated among boys. There was no association between H. pylori antibody status, body mass index percentile, and birth‐delivery method.

Heliobacterpylori infection and extra‐gastric disease in children and adolescents

“…Abe et al . reported that 5.8% of all subjects stratified by sex and H. pylori antibody status were H. pylori antibody positive, of which 6.4% were boys and 5.2% were girls 2 . This result is consistent with previously reported incidence rates in developed countries 1 .…”

“…cITP, HpAG, and IDA were the most frequent diseases among 1–6, 7–12, and 13–18‐year‐old children, respectively 4 . In this paper, H. pylori infection was shown to be significantly associated with lower hematocrit and hemoglobin levels in both boys and girls, data that reinforces the association with IDA 2 . The association of H. pylori and IDA has been conclusively proven in numerous studies.…”

“…In addition, this paper shows that there is no significant correlation between the birth delivery method and H. pylori infection. Vaginal delivery is therefore not considered a risk factor for H. pylori infection 2 …”

“…1 In this issue, Abe et al reported on the results of a large-scale survey of extra gastric diseases resulting from H. pylori infection among junior high school students belonging to one region of Akita prefecture in Japan, an area with a relatively high level of gastric cancer. 2 They also surveyed the birth delivery methods of those students to assess the relationship between H. pylori infection and vaginal birth. 2 Large-scale studies of H. pylori infection and extra-gastric disease in children are rare and valuable.…”

“…2 They also surveyed the birth delivery methods of those students to assess the relationship between H. pylori infection and vaginal birth. 2 Large-scale studies of H. pylori infection and extra-gastric disease in children are rare and valuable.…”