Relationship between active Helicobacter pylori infection and anemia, iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia: A cross-sectional study in a sub-Saharan setting

Background and Aim: There have been contradictory reports about the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Based on the high frequency of H. pylori infection in Cameroon, we have evaluated the frequency of H. pylori infection as the cause of anemia, and IDA among dyspeptic patients in Cameroon. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 842 dyspeptic patients (472 women and 370 men) in two reference hospitals in Douala-Cameroon. Each participant gave a written consent, and the study was approved by the National Ethical Committee. Erythroid-related indices and markers of iron deficiency (ID) measurement were done for each participant as well as H. pylori detection. Data were analyzed using SSPS statistical package. Results: The prevalence of anemia, ID, IDA, and H. pylori infection was 65.08%, 31.47%, 25.65%, and 80.88%, respectively. H. pylori infected individuals had a significantly lower mean value of hemoglobin (P = 0.01), hematocrit (P = 0.04), ferritin (P = 0.03) and coefficient of transferrin saturation (CTS) levels (P = 0.04) and a significantly higher mean value of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (P = 0.02). Compared with H. pylori non-infected participants, H. pylori infected patients were 1.2938 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.9087-1.8421), 1.1851 (95% CI: 0.8122-1.7292), and 1.5636 (95% CI: 1.0206-2.3953) times at higher risk to develop anemia, ID, and IDA, respectively. A significant relationship was found between H. pylori infection and IDA (P = 0.04 and 0.04 for crude and age/sex-adjusted, respectively). Conclusion: H. pylori infection seems to be associated with anemia, and IDA among dyspeptic patients in our milieu.