Evaluating Helicobacter pylori Infection as a Risk Factor for Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Case-Control Approach

Background The medical community identifies <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) infection as a growing cause of extra-gastrointestinal manifestations, which primarily affect iron deficiency anemia (IDA). The purpose of this research was to analyze how <i>H. pylori</i> infection relates to IDA through the case-control method. Method This study enrolled 48 individuals, divided into 24 (50%) cases of diagnosed IDA patients and 24 (50%) healthy controls who were matched by age and sex at Soo-Jung Hospital Doti, Rajpur Doti, Nepal. The study enrolled all subjects for laboratory examinations of blood tests, along with <i>H. pylori</i> infection assessments via stool antigen testing or urea breath tests. The researchers documented dietary patterns, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, gastrointestinal symptoms, and bleeding history. The investigators analyzed the data through SPSS Version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) and conducted independent t-tests and chi-square tests to compare groups, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Research findings indicated that subjects with IDA presented a higher rate of <i>H. pylori</i> positivity, 21 (87.5%), compared to the control group, 7 (29.2%) (p < 0.001). The mean levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, and serum iron were significantly reduced in cases (9.7 g/dL versus 13.0 g/dL) (17.2 ng/mL versus 58.1 ng/mL), while they showed elevated total iron-binding capacity and decreased mean cellular volume levels. The proportion of patients with poor nutritional status and NSAID use was higher among participants who tested positive for <i>H. pylori</i>. Conclusion The evidence indicated that <i>H. pylori</i> infection establishes a direct link to the development of IDA. The combined assessment and therapy of <i>H. pylori</i> infection in anemic patients demonstrated promise for proper management and anemia resolution, particularly when patients have an inadequate diet or use NSAIDs.