AIM

To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) seropositivity and the presence of microalbuminuria.

METHODS

Between December 2003 and February 2010, asymptomatic individuals who visited the Seoul National University Healthcare System Gangnam Center for a routine check-up and underwent tests for H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibodies and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) were included. All study subjects completed a structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests. Anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G was identified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. A random single-void urine sample, collected using a clean-catch technique, was obtained to determine the UACR. The presence of microalbuminuria was defined as a UACR from 30 to 300 μg/mg. The presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was defined as either a fasting serum glucose level greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL or taking anti-diabetic medication. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors. The dependent variable was microalbuminuria, and the independent variables were the other study variables.

RESULTS

A total of 2716 subjects (male, 71.8%; mean age, 54.9 years) were included. Among them, 224 subjects (8.2%) had microalbuminuria and 324 subjects (11.9%) had been diagnosed with DM. Subjects with microalbuminuria had a significantly higher H. pylori seropositivity rate than subjects without microalbuminuria (60.7% vs 52.8%, P = 0.024). Multivariate analysis after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and glucose and triglyceride levels showed that H. pylori seropositivity was significantly associated with microalbuminuria [odds ratio (OR), 1.40, 95% CI, 1.05-1.89, P = 0.024]. After the data were stratified into cohorts by glucose levels (≤ 100 mg/dL, 100 mg/dL < glucose < 126 mg/dL, and ≥ 126 mg/dL or history of DM), H. pylori seropositivity was found to be significantly associated with microalbuminuria in diabetic subjects after adjusting for age, BMI and serum creatinine level (OR, 2.21, 95% CI, 1.20-4.08, P = 0.011). In addition, the subjects were divided into five groups. Those without microalbuminuria (an UACR of < 30 μg/mg) were divided into four groups in accordance with their UACR values, and subjects with microalbuminuria comprised their own group. Notably, H. pylori seropositivity gradually increased with an increase in UACR (P = 0.001) and was highest in subjects with microalbuminuria (OR, 2.41, 95% CI, 1.14-5.11). This suggests that H. pylori seropositivity is positively associated with microalbuminuria in diabetic subjects.

CONCLUSION

H. pylori seropositivity was independently associated with microalbuminuria, and the prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity was associated with the severity of UACR in diabetic subjects.