Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Among Patients With Helicobacter pylori Infection at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background and objective Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are related but distinct conditions. Iron deficiency refers to a state where the body has insufficient iron stores, which can lead to anemia if not addressed. Iron deficiency anemia, on the other hand, is a more severe condition where the lack of iron has resulted in decreased hemoglobin levels, impacting oxygen transport in the blood. Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection can contribute to iron deficiency through mechanisms such as chronic gastrointestinal bleeding and impaired iron absorption, potentially progressing to iron deficiency anemia. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency, including its potential progression to iron deficiency anemia, among patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, and included 200 patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection via endoscopic biopsy or urea breath test, from January to June 2023. Participants were aged 18 years and older, excluding those with chronic diseases affecting iron metabolism, current iron supplement users, and pregnant women. Data were collected through questionnaires and medical records, and blood samples were analyzed for serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and logistic regression was performed in SPSS (version 27; IBM Corp, Armonk, NY); p-value <0.05 was significant. Results Out of 200 patients, 80 (40%) were iron deficient. The prevalence was highest among those over 60 years (n = 15, 75%) compared to the 18-30 age group (n = 10, 20%). Males had a slightly higher prevalence of iron deficiency (n = 50, 45.5%) compared to females (n = 30, 33.3%). Patients with H. pylori infection for more than three years exhibited a higher prevalence of iron deficiency (n = 30, 50%) compared to those with less than one year of infection (10/60, 16.7%). Dietary habits also played a role, with vegetarians showing a higher prevalence (n = 20, 50%) compared to non-vegetarians (n = 60, 37.5%). Hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in iron-deficient participants, averaging 10.8 ± 0.9 g/dL, and logistic regression indicated significant associations between iron deficiency and both age (OR = 1.05, p = 0.001) and infection duration (OR = 1.10, p < 0.001). Conclusions The study revealed a significant prevalence of iron deficiency among H. pylori -infected patients, particularly in older adults, males, those with longer infection duration, and vegetarians. The findings underscore the need for routine monitoring and targeted treatment of iron deficiency in this population.
Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Institutional Review Board issued approval BMCH/IRB/2022/Car-08/10. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
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