Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacteria with a spiral (helical) morphology which is usually found in the stomach. H. pylori infection is one of the most common bacterial infection worldwide and in children of lower ages. Reports show that this bacterium is associated with simple dyspepsia, heartburn and peptic ulcer diseases, most commonly leading to upper gastrointestinal bleeding and ultimately to the severe compilation of gastric malignancy. Diabetes mellitus is an important factor that increases the susceptibility and risk of various infections in the host. The prevalence of H. pylori among diabetes mellitus patients in Benin City and Nigeria has not been studied extensively, thus, this study aimed at determining the seroprevalence of H. pylori and assessing the possible risk factors associated with the infection among diabetes mellitus patients in Benin City. Three hundred and fifty (350) serum samples that included two 
hundred (200) diabetes mellitus samples and one hundred and fifty (150) serum samples from non-diabetics (healthy control) were collected and tested for fasting blood sugar and H. pylori antibodies (IgG) using enzymatic technique and immunochromatography test kit respectively. Chi-square test was used to compare diabetes mellitus and control groups (P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant). Out of 200 diabetes mellitus patients that were tested for H. pylori antibodies, 103 (56.3%) were seropositive. In the non-diabetic control group, out of 150 that were tested 72 (52.6%) were seropositive. P value of 0.500 indicated no statistically significant difference between both groups. In the diabetes mellitus respondent, there was a significant association observed between seropositivity to H. pylori infection and fasting blood sugar, sanitary condition, and water supply. In the control group, living in a crowded household was significantly 
associated with seropositivity to H. pylori infection (p=< 0.001). Findings from this study showed that there is no statistically significant association between diabetes mellitus and H. pylori infection. Good sanitary conditions as well as properly cooked food and a reliable supply of clean portable water will help to reduce the risk of H. pylori infection.