Helicobacter pylori is not a contributing factor in gallbladder polyps or gallstones: a case-control matching study of Chinese individuals

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and gallstones or gallbladder polyps. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 27,881 individuals who underwent health examinations that included a H. pylori test and an abdominal ultrasound scan. Patients were divided into four groups: gallbladder polyp (P group), gallstone (S group), gallstone and gallbladder polyp (SP group), and no gallbladder disease (N group). Case–control matching was used to select the participants in the control group. RESULTS: The mean ages of participants in the P, S, and SP groups were all significantly higher than the mean age of participants in the N group. The proportions of participants with each type of body mass index significantly differed between the N and P groups, and between the N and S groups. In total 45.7% of participants exhibited H. pylori infection. After case-control matching, the proportion of participants with H. pylori infection did not significantly differ according to the presence or absence of gallbladder polyps. Similar results were observed regarding gallstones, as well as gallstones and gallbladder polyps. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection might not be related to gallbladder polyps or gallstones.