Helicobacter pylori seropositivity insubjects with acute myocardial infarction

Objective-To determine whether Helicobacter pylori infection increases therisk ofmyocardial infarction. Design-Case-control study. Setting-University teaching hospital. Methods-Serological evidenceof H pyloni infection wasdetermined in342 consecutive patients withacutemyocardialinfarction admitted intothecoronary careunitandin236population-based controlsrecruited from visitors to patients onmedical andsurgical wards. Results-2061342 (60.2%) ofcaseswereH pyloni positive comparedwith132/236 (5590/6) ofcontrols (P= 0.30). Ageand sexstratified oddsratioformyocardial infarction associated with H pylon seropositivity was1-05(95%CI07to1P53, P = 0.87) andthisremained non-significant(P= 0.46) whenotherriskfactors forischaemic heartdisease weretaken intoaccountusinglogistic regression analysis. H pylonseropositivity wasnot associated withseveral coronary riskfactorsineither casesorcontrols. Conclusion-No increase wasfoundinH pylonz seropositivity insubjects withacute myocardial infarction. Thissuggests that previous H pyloninfection isnotamajor riskfactor foracutemyocardial infarction. (Heart 1996;76:308-31 1)