Association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and Helicobacter pylori infection among Saudi patients attending National Guard Primary Health Care Centers in the Western Region, 2018

BACKGROUND: Reports on Helicobacter pylori infection in diabetics are inconsistent and contradictory. This study attempted to identify the possible association between type 2 diabetes and H. pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following a cross-sectional design, participants were recruited from four National Guard Primary Health Care Centers in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted from December 2017 to November 2018. All participants underwent hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) assessment and stool antigen test for H. pylori. RESULTS: A total of 212 type 2 diabetic patients aged 40 years or more, and 209 age-matched nondiabetic subjects were included in the study. About one-quarter of the diabetics and nondiabetics were positive for H. pylori (26.9% and 26.3%, respectively). There was no significant difference. The prevalence of H. pylori did not differ significantly in the type 2 diabetics, with regard to their age groups, gender, smoking status, body mass index, chronic diseases, their HbA1c level, duration of diabetes, or received type of therapy. The prevalence of H. pylori was significantly higher in overweight and obese nondiabetic subjects (P = 0.013). Obese participants in both groups had the highest prevalence of infection (57.9% and 54.5%, respectively, P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: About one-quarter of type 2 diabetics and nondiabetics in Jeddah City have H. pylori infection. There is no association between diabetes and H. pylori infection. H. pylori was significantly higher in patients with a high body mass index.