Helicobacter pylori and BMI; among obese and non obese patients in South India

Abstract

Introduction
There is no consensus among the existing research articles among the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and obesity. However obesity can alter innate and adaptive immunity, with immunological impairment related to the grade of obesity, resulting in less maturation of monocytes into macrophages, reduced polymorphonuclear bactericidal capacity and a significant decrease in NK cell activity. This contributes to reduced defence of the body against Helicobacter pylori invasion.
Aim and Objective
To analyse obese and non obese patients, classified based on BMI with respect to Helicobacter pylori positive infection.
Materials and Methods
• Study area- Thandalam
• Study period-January 2019- March 2019
• Study design-Prospective study
• Study population- Patients reporting for endoscopy with dyspepsia and other upper GI symptoms
• Sample size- 120 patients
• Sampling method- Simple random Sampling
• Data analysis- Descriptive statistics will be calculated for the variables using SPSS software.
Result
In this study, 120 patients reporting to endoscopy division of gastroenterology department of Saveetha Medical College and Hospital were included. 55.8% of the participants were male and 44.2% of the participants were female. The general prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the participants is 57.5%. The prevalence of obesity in the participants was 30.8%. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in the non obese patients was 46.98% and the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori positive infections in obese patients was 81.08%. Increase in BMI was associated significantly with Helicobacter pylori infection (p<0.00).                                                                                                                                                                                                        Conclusion
Here, we observe that the prevalence of Helicobacter H.pylori infection is high in patients with high BMI (obese patients). Therefore, pending further studies and investigations, due consideration has to be given to address the problem and establishing obesity as a risk factor for Helicobacter pylori infection.