Correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric diseases and life habits among patients treated at a university hospital in Southeast Brazil

• Published in: The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 89 - 95
• Main Authors: Módena, José Luiz Proença, Acrani, Gustavo Olszanski, Micas, André Fernando Ditondo, Castro, Marly de, Silveira, Wanderley Dias da, Módena, José Luiz Pimenta, Oliveira, Ricardo Brandt de, Brocchi, Marcelo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 01-02-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; duodenal ulcer; Female; gastric ulcer; gastritis; Helicobacter Infections - diagnosis; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter Infections - microbiology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Hospitals, University; Humans; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; life habits; Life Style; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stomach Diseases - diagnosis; Stomach Diseases - epidemiology; Stomach Diseases - microbiology; Brazil; life habits; Helicobacter pylori; gastric ulcer; gastritis; duodenal ulcer
• ISSN: 1413-8670; 1678-4391; 1413-8670
• DOI: 10.1590/S1413-86702007000100020

Helicobacter pylori is considered a significant agent in the development of various gastric diseases. However, the diseases caused by this bacterium are known as being multi-factorial, with the genotype, immune system and life habits of the host playing important roles in the establishment of the clinical outcome. Also, H. pylori exhibit a high degree of genetic variability, contributing to the complexity of the host-pathogen relationship. These observations, considered together with the widely-varying origins and social habits of the Brazilian population, lead us to speculate about the influence of these life habits on H. pylori infection and the clinical outcome. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the relationship between H. pylori infection and certain diseases in 172 patients treated at the Hospital das Clínicas of Ribeirão Preto (HCRP), Brazil, taking into account their different life habits, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and alcohol ingestion, and smoking habit. Our analysis indicated that H. pylori infection is not affected by any of the life habits evaluated but is associated with the development of peptic ulcers (gastric and duodenal ulcer) and inverse correlate with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). No correlation was found between the infection with this bacterium and gastritis or intestinal metaplasia. However, gastritis and erosive gastritis were directly correlated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) ingestion. Moreover, ingestion of alcohol beverages exhibited a protective effect on gastritis development in men. Our data also indicated that to achieve reliable detection of this bacterium in biopsies, two or three detection methods should be used.