Relation of alcohol to Helicobacter pylori infection: A cross sectional study

Introduction: H. pylorus is found in half the population of the world. Worldwide, H. pylorus is by far the most common aetiological agent for non self-limiting gastritis. Socioeconomic conditions in childhood is identified as a major risk factor for infection. Many studies have been conducted to establish the association of alcohol consumption and H Pylori gastritis, however the results reported by these studies were inconsistent. Need of the present study is to assess the relation of alcohol consumption to H. pylori infection. Objective: To assess the proportion of H. pylori and atrophic gastritis in alcoholic patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted from October 2013 to June 2015 in the Department of Gastroenterology, M.S. Ramaiah Hospitals (M.S. Ramaiah Teaching Hospital and M.S. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital), Bangalore. 150 alcoholic patients were involved in the study. Age, sex, presenting complaints and detailed history regarding alcohol intake was taken. Rapid urease test was done for all the patients and a gastric biopsy sample was obtained from the antrum of the stomach and sent to the pathology department. Sections made from the gastric biopsy sample were stained with H and E and Giemsa stain. Sections were then evaluated for the presence of H. pylori. Results: In the 150 alcoholic patients included in the study, prevalence of H. pylori was 76%. The age and the gender did not play a role in the H. pylori infection. It was observed in the study that the prevalence of H. pylori infection increased with the increase in frequency, duration, amount of alcohol intake with a statistically significant p value. It was found that the consumption of spirit was associated more with H. pylori positivity than beer intake. Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection increases with the increase in frequency, duration and quantity of alcohol intake. The type of alcohol consumed also plays a role in H. pylori infections.