Background: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary artery disease (CAD) has as yet not been fully examined. The myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) stress test has proven its efficacy as an integral part of diagnosing CAD.
Objectives: To investigate the association between CAD and H. pylori infection using MPI.
Methods: This prospective study evaluated CAD positivity among consecutive patients referred to a tertiary medical center for a stress/rest MPI. All patients were tested for serum anti-H. pylori and CagA protein immunoglobulin G antibodies. The CAD positivity group included patients with ischemia and/or myocardial infarction (MA) on a stress MPI, coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). CAD-negative subjects were defined as participants with a normal MPI, no pathological Q waves in resting ECG tracing, and no history of CAD. Both groups were compared for H. pylori and CagA seropositivity. Patients' demographic data, risk factors for CAD, and childhood socioeconomic status were recorded.
Results: The study group consisted of 300 consecutive patients, 170 men and 130 women; 64% (110/173) CAD-positive patients and 47% (60/127) CAD-negative participants were found seropositive for H. pylori infection (P = 0.005). In the adjusted analysis, H. pylori infection was found to be associated with CAD positivity (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.06-3.17, P = 0.031), and MI (fixed perfusion defects on MPI) (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.44-7.84, P = 0.005). No association was noted with CagA positivity.
Conclusions: In patients undergoing a stress MPI, serum anti-H. pylori antibodies positivity was found to be associated with CAD, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.