Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori Ig G Antibody and Risk Factors in Hypertensive Patients at Dschang District Hospital in Cameroon
Jean-de-Dieu Tamokou *
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon
Yvette Alvine Tonleu Guimtsop
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon
Martin Ernest Ndebi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon
Vanessa Linda Nzesseu
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon
Arsène Kamamo Djokge
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon
Jules-Roger Kuiate
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 67 Dschang, Cameroon
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Growing evidence suggests that certain extragastric diseases were associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori Ig G antibody and risk factors among hypertensive patients at Dschang District Hospital in Cameroon.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry and District Hospital of Dschang, between November 2015 to March 2016.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 158 consenting patients of average age 57.21 ± 10 years attending the hospital for medical check-up or admitted in the hospital. Two blood pressure measurements and the determination of anti-H. pylori IgG antibody by the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, enabled us to distinguish four groups of patients. A questionnaire survey was administered to study participants and potential risk factors for H. pylori exposure sought. The variables were included into a multivariate logistic regression model, and the association of the potential risk factors with the studied pathologies was expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Chi-square test was used to compare frequencies of risks factors in the various groups. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analyses. A p < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses.
Results: The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgG antibody was significantly higher in hypertensive patients than in controls (44.89% versus 33.33%; p = 0.029; OR = 2.43). Among the risk factors evaluated, sex (p = 0.001; OR = 1.269) and alcohol intake (p = 0.001; OR = 1.235) were observed to be independent risk factors of hypertension while the habit of sharing cutleries (p = 0.043; OR = 2.337) and family history of gastric pains (p = 0.001; OR = 39.0) were predictors of H. pylori infection. Finally, obesity was an independent predictor of hypertension (p = 0.0204; OR = 5.149) and H. pylori infection (p = 0.047; OR = 2.042).
Conclusion: Based on these results, it is conceivable that H. pylori infection and the identified risk factors can be reliable indicators for the assessment of cardiovascular problems such as hypertension.
Keywords: H. pylori infection, hypertension, seroprevalence, IgG antibody, risk factors, Cameroon