HELICOBACTER-PYLORI SEROPOSITIVITY IN SUBJECTS WITH ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Objective-To determine whether Helicobacter bacter pylori infection in creases the risk of myocardial infarction. Design-Case-control study. Setting-University teaching hospital. Methods-Serological evidence of H Pylori infection was determined in 342 consecutive patients with acu te myocardial infarction admitted into the coronary care unit and in 2 36 population-based controls recruited from visitors to patients on me dical and surgical wards. Results-206/342 (60.2%) of cases were H pylo ri positive compared with 132/236 (55.9%) of controls (P = 0.30). Age and sex stratified odds ratio for myocardial infarction associated wit h H pylori seropositivity was 1.05 (95% CI 0.7 to 1.53, P = 0.87) and this remained non-significant (P = 0.46) when other risk factors for i schaemic heart disease were taken into account using logistic regressi on analysis. H pylori seropositivity was not associated with several c oronary risk factors in either cases or controls. Conclusion-No increa se was found in H pylori seropositivity in subjects with acute myocard ial infarction. This suggests that previous H pylori infection is not a major risk factor for acute myocardial infarction.