Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The elderly population is a high-risk group for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, and dietary habits are key factors influencing infection. This study aims to explore the association between dietary habits and Hp infection in an elderly health examination population. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, including 6 160 healthy individuals aged over 60 years who underwent health examinations at the Healthcare Management Medical Center of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2017 and November 2024. Hp infection status was detected using the (13)C urea breath test. Demographic characteristics and dietary habit data were collected using questionnaires. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between dietary habits and Hp infection status. RESULTS: The overall Hp infection rate among the study population was 24.1% (1 488/6 160). Univariate analysis showed that dining out in groups ≥1 time/week (χ(2)=5.783, P=0.016), milk consumption ≥3 times/week (χ(2)=3.959, P=0.047), fatty meat intake ≥3 times/week (χ(2)=3.156, P=0.076), animal viscera intake ≥1 time/week (χ(2)=6.101, P=0.014), and dietary diversity score (DDS) classification (χ(2)=5.297, P=0.071) were significantly associated with Hp infection. After adjusting for confounding factors such as chronic diseases in multivariate analysis, Logistic regression results showed that dining out in groups ≥1 time/week (OR=1.320, 95% CI 1.053 to 1.655), milk intake ≥3 times/week (OR=1.246, 95% CI 1.085 to 1.431), and animal viscera intake ≥1 time/week (OR=1.171, 95% CI 1.037 to 1.322) were independent risk factors for Hp infection. Dietary diversity was a protective factor for Hp infection. Compared with the low-diversity group (DDS≤5), the risk of Hp infection decreased by 21.6% (OR=0.784, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.975) in the medium-diversity group (DDS 6-7) and by 27.6% (OR=0.724, 95% CI 0.587 to 0.892) in the high-diversity group (DDS≥8). CONCLUSIONS: Frequent group dining, excessive intake of dairy products and animal viscera may increase the risk of Hp infection in the elderly health examination population, while dietary diversity has a protective effect.