Is lower socio-economic status a risk factor for Helicobacter pylori infection in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum?

Background/aims: Lower socio-economic status was demonstrated to be a major risk factor for infection with H. pylori infection in the general population. The aim of the present study was to investigate any possible association between infection with H. pylori and hyperemesis gravidarum and between socio-economic status and H. pylori infection in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Methods: Fifty-six pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum and 90 control pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Forty-five (80.4%) subjects in the hyperemesis gravidarum group and 72 (80%) subjects in the control group were assessed as lower socio-economic status by questionnaire. Specific serum immunglobulin G for H. pylori was assayed by fluorescent enzyme immunoassay method for both groups.

Results: Serologically positive H. pylori infection was detected in 46 (82.1%) subjects of the hyperemesis gravidarum group and in 58 (64.4%) of the controls (p=0.024). With respect to the patients with lower socio-economic status, 40 (88.9%) of the 45 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum and 49 (68.1%) of the 72 controls were positive for H. pylori (p=0.013).

Conclusions: This study supports the studies suggesting an association between H. pylori and hyperemesis gravidarum. In addition, the lower socio-economic status may also be an important risk factor for infection with H. pylori in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum.