Is Strongyloides seropositivity associated with diabetes mellitus? A retrospective case-control study in an East London NHS Trust.

BACKGROUND

The association between diabetes and Strongyloides stercoralis remains controversial. We conducted a case-control study examining the association between diabetes and Strongyloides seropositivity in a large UK centre.

METHODS

Between January 2013 and October 2016, cases and controls were identified by positive and negative Strongyloides serology, respectively. Demographic, clinical and microbiological data were retrospectively collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 532 samples were serologically tested for Strongyloides. After exclusion of duplicates and cases with missing data, 100 (22.3%; 95% CI 18.5-26.4%) out of 449 tested positive. Of seropositive cases, the mean age was 57 years (SD 16), 71 (71%) were male, 94 (94%) were migrants and 92 (92%) had eosinophilia.Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between Strongyloides seropositivity and age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.05), male sex (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.37-3.59), migration (OR 5.36, 95% CI 2.27-12.67), eosinophilia (OR 4.36, 95% CI 2.04-9.33) and diabetes (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.19-5.66). In multivariate analysis, there remained a significant association between diabetes and Strongyloides seropositivity (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.04-3.16).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated a high rate of Strongyloides seropositivity in our East London cohort and a significant association with diabetes.