Open AccessThe Effect of Helicobacter pylori on the Presentation and Clinical Course of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection
Author(s) -
Balamtekin Necati,
Artuk Cumhur,
Arslan Melike,
Gülşen Mustafa
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/mpg.0000000000003005
Subject(s) - medicine , gastroenterology , helicobacter pylori , diarrhea , abdominal pain , coronavirus , disease , virus , immunology , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Objectives: Novel coronavirus 2019 (corona virus disease 2019 [COVID‐19]) binds angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐2 (ACE‐2) receptors to enter the cell. These receptors are widely expressed in the intestine, and COVID‐19 may cause gastrointestinal symptoms via these receptors during the course of the disease. Helicobacter pylori is known to increase the expression of ACE‐2 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of H pylori on the presentation and clinical course of COVID‐19 infections. Methods: This study was carried out from June 1 to July 20, 2020. Patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 infections by PCR tests were included in the study. Antigen screening tests were performed on stool samples to determine the presence of H pylori. All patients were evaluated for manifestations of COVID‐19 infection, severity of the course, hospitalized days because of the virus and outcome of the disease process. Results: Of 108 COVID‐19 positive patients evaluated, 31 with a mean age of 49.54 ± 17.94 years were H pylori‐ positive (8 girls [25.8%]) and 77 with a mean age of 47.85 ± 20.51 years; (31 girls [40.3%]) were H pylori ‐negative. Abdominal pain (19.4% vs 2.6%) and diarrhea (32.3% vs 9.1%) were significantly higher in patients with H pylori than those without ( P = 0.007 and P = 0.006, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between H pylori positivity and the number of hospitalized days, the severity of the course of COVID‐19 infection, or the outcome of the disease ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Our results revealed that the findings of abdominal pain and diarrhea strongly correlated with the presence of H pylori in COVID‐19 patients.