Abstract
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with anemia. Understanding the magnitude of H. pylori infection and its association with anemia is important in the management of anemic patients. The aim of this study was to assess the association between H. pylori infection and anemia among dyspeptic patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Butajira Hospital, Southern Ethiopia among 401 systematically dyspeptic patients. A structured questionnaire was used to collected data about the patient characteristics. Blood samples were analyzed for red blood cell parameters. Stool samples were assessed for the presence of H. pylori antigens and the presence of intestinal helminthes. Data were summarized in frequencies (%) and mean (SD) as appropriate. Chi-square test, logistic regression and independent t-tests were used in the analysis as needed. In all cases P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 52.4% and it was significantly associated with age, presence of intestinal parasites, smoking habit, alcohol drinking habit and body mass index. The prevalence of anemia among H. pylori infected patients (30.9%) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than uninfected patients (22.5%). The mean (SD) values of HGB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, HCT and RBC count was significantly different between H. pylori infected and uninfected patients. CONCLUSION: This study showed high prevalence of H. pylori infection among dyspeptic patients and this was associated with age and some behavioral characteristics of the patients. H. pylori infected patients showed high rate of anemia prevalence as compared to their H. pylori unifected counter parts. From this study it can be recommended that intervention activities related to the behavioral characteristics and prevention of intestinal parasitic infections should be in place. The cross sectional nature of the study has a limitation to show cause and effect associations and hence association between H. pylori infections with anemia need to be investigated in cohort type studies.