Link Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Colorectal Polyps: Implications for Screening in Northern Iran

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common gastrointestinal pathogen implicated in gastric malignancies, and emerging evidence suggests a potential link to colorectal neoplasia. Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps in a Middle Eastern population with high background prevalence of both conditions. Materials & Methods: In this hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study, 382 adults undergoing both upper endoscopy and colonoscopy at Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran, were enrolled over a one-year period. H. pylori infection was detected via histopathological examination of gastric biopsies. Colorectal polyps were identified during colonoscopy and confirmed by histological evaluation. Demographic, clinical, and lifestyle data were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps, adjusting for age, sex, and other confounders. Results: The mean age of participants was 56.93 ± 13.51years with aged 18 years and older. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps was 48.4% and 33.0%, respectively. No significant association was observed between H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps in unadjusted (OR=1.10; 95% CI: 0.72–1.68; P=0.667) or adjusted models (adjusted OR=1.19; 95% CI: 0.76–1.87; P=0.435). Polyp prevalence increased significantly with age (P for trend = 0.049) but did not differ by sex or H. pylori status. Conclusion: This study found no significant association between H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps. These results underscore the need for further prospective and mechanistic research across diverse populations to clarify this relationship.