The role of Helicobacter pylori in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most common in the world. More than 50% of the world's population is infected and infection rates are especially high in countries with poor socio-economic conditions. H. pylori causes gastroduodenal and extra-gastroduodenal diseases including such metabolic disorders as obesity, diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Recent epidemiological and clinical studies showed that the long-term persistence of H. pylori infection is associated with the development and progression of atherosclerosis and consequently cardiovascular diseases. However, the correlation between these conditions is ambiguous and there is not enough evidence to confirm it. The lack of consensus might be related to differences in diagnostic methods used for H. pylori and the variety of its genotypes. Considering high prevalence of H. pylori infection as well as high incidence of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, a verified correlation between these can be of great epidemiological, prophylactic and clinical significance.