Relations between Helicobacter pylori, thyroid disease and cardiovascular risk factors in a 56-65-year-old population

Abstract

Objective - To estimate the prevalence of and relation between Helicobacter pylori (HP) and thyroid disease in a 56-65-year-old population with cardiovascular risk factors. Design - Cross-sectional study including every second individual in the age group. Setting - The primary health care district of Mölnlycke, with about 14 000 inhabitants. Patients - 170 men and 217 women aged between 56 and 65 years. Main outcome measures - Anthropometric (body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR)) and blood pressure measurements, biochemical analyses, including s-TSH, s-FT4 and HP serology. Results - There was a high prevalence of metabolic risk factors in this pre-retirement group of individuals. The prevalence of HP was 42% in both men and women. Only a significant correlation between HP and WHR was seen in men. Conclusions - No reason could be found for including analysis of HP and thyroid tests in screening programmes for cardiovascular risk factors in men and women.