Association Between Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Periodontal and Gastric Diseases: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection has been implicated in both gastric and extra-gastric diseases, including periodontitis.

METHODS

This meta-analysis investigated the association between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and periodontitis by systematically reviewing eight studies. The analysis was conducted using the R package "meta," employing both fixed effects and random effects models. The level of heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using the I-squared statistic and tau values. Publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots, Begg's rank correlation, and Egger's regression tests to ensure the robustness of the findings.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included a total of 6061 observations, with 1404 cases of periodontitis. The fixed effects model produced an odds ratio (OR) of 2.3392 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0207-2.7078), and the random effects model yielded a similar OR of 2.3220 (95% CI: 2.0050-2.6892). The I-squared statistic indicated low to moderate heterogeneity among the studies. Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent associations across different Hp diagnostic methods.

CONCLUSION

Hp infection is significantly associated with an increased risk of periodontitis, highlighting its role in both gastric and oral health.