A prospective study of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and the risk for future myocardial infarction among socioeconomically similar U.S. men.

BACKGROUND

The role of Helicobacter pylori as a determinant of cardiovascular disease is controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether previous exposure to H. pylori is associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction.

DESIGN

Prospective case-control study.

SETTING

Physicians' Health Study.

PARTICIPANTS

Initially healthy U.S. men.

MEASUREMENTS

Titers of IgG antibody against H. pylori and several inflammatory markers were measured in baseline blood samples obtained from 445 men who subsequently had a myocardial infarction (case-patients) and 445 men matched for age and smoking status who remained free of vascular disease (controls) during a mean follow-up of 8.9 years.

RESULTS

Baseline seropositivity was similar among case-patients and controls (43.4% vs. 44.3%; rate ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.7 to 1.3]). Minimal evidence of association was found between magnitude of seropositivity and subsequent risk and between seropositivity and levels of the inflammatory biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

In a socioeconomically homogeneous population, we found limited evidence of association between H. pylori exposure and risk for future myocardial infarction.