Helicobacter pylori infection among type 2 diabetics: a case control study

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection has been associated with hyperglycemia among type 2 diabetics. The objective of this study was to compare the H. pylori infection frequency in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.Methods: This case-control study was done at Al-Tibri Medical College and Hospital from May 2019 to August 2019. After written and informed consent, patients between 18-75 years with epigastric burning, dyspepsia, regurgitation were included and with history of eradication therapy, antibiotic or NSAID use in the last 6 months or surgery of upper GI tract months were excluded. Type 2 diabetics were placed in one group and non-diabetic individuals in another. Both groups were compared for presence of H. pylori infection. Data was analysed using SPSS. Demographic variables included age, gender and status of H. pylori infection. Quantitative data was expressed as frequency and percentages. Chi-square test was applied to test for significance keeping p-value of <0.05 statistically significant.Results: From 480 patients, 355 patients showed positive H. pylori, among them 282 were diabetic and 73 non-diabetic (p-value <0.001). Amongst the 355 diabetics, 55% were male Among 73 non-diabetics, 64% were male. All the patients in the study had dyspeptic symptoms and complained of dyspepsia, epigastric burning and regurgitation.Conclusions: A substantial relationship between H. pylori infection among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients was observed compared to non-diabetics. As a result, diabetic patients having active dyspeptic symptoms should undergo further confirmatory tests for diagnosing H. pylori infection