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A254 PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN BARIATRIC SURGERY PATIENTS


 
 
 Helicobacter Pylori (HP) infection is the most common chronic infection in humans. Known risk factors include poor socioeconomic status and living conditions, especially at a young age. In Canada, the prevalence is estimated between 23% and 38%. The relationship between BMI and HP infection is controversial. Some data suggests that HP infection occurs less frequently in individuals who are overweight. Other authors endorse that obesity is a risk factor for HP infection, possibly explained by altered innate and adaptive immunity in these patients.
 
 
 
 The objectives were to determine the prevalence of HP infection in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and assess the correlation between HP infection and various patient characteristics.
 
 
 
 All patients who underwent bariatric surgery with a gastric resection in a single hospital between 01/2004 and 01/2019 were analyzed. When gastritis was present, HP immunohistochemical testing was performed. Characteristics of HP-positive (HP+) and HP-negative (HP-) patients were compared using Student’s t-test and χ 2 test.
 
 
 
 A total of 6388 specimens were reviewed (4365 women & 2023 men) with a mean age of 44.9±11.2 years and a mean BMI of 49.3±8.2 kg/m2. Histology-proven HP infection rate was 6.3% (n=405). There was no significant difference in sex, BMI and body weight between HP+ and HP- patients. HP+ patients were significantly older than HP– patients (47.4±9.8 vs 44.7±11.3 years, respectively, p<0.0001). Logistic regressions identified age as a risk factor for HP infection in this population (OR 1.26, p<0.0001, CI95% 1.14–1.40 for every 10-year increase).
 
 
 
 The rate of histology-proven HP infection is low in patients with severe obesity who present for bariatric surgery and is directly associated with age. The benefits of routine preoperative testing in non-gastric-bypass surgery candidates should be questioned.
 Characteristics of study participants
 
 
 
 This study was performed with support from the Research Chair in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery at Laval University (L. Biertho and A. Tchernof). MC is the recipient of a studentship from Diabète Québec.
