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. 2022 Jan 18:8:706036.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.706036. eCollection 2021.

Association Between H. pylori Infection and Colorectal Polyps: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Depeng Lu  1 , Mingyu Wang  2 , Xiquan Ke  1 , Qiangwu Wang  1 , Jianchao Wang  1 , Dapeng Li  1 , Meng Wang  1 , Qizhi Wang  1
Affiliations

Association Between H. pylori Infection and Colorectal Polyps: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Depeng Lu et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with hypergastrinemia and proliferation of colorectal mucosa via direct stimulation, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, and changes in the gut microbiome, all of which may lead to the formation of colorectal polyps. However, the consensus remains lacking regarding whether H. pylori infection is independently associated with colorectal polyps and whether the association differs according to histological type of colorectal polyps. To summarize the current evidence regarding the relationship between H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps, we conducted a meta-analysis of related observational studies according to the histological types of colorectal polyps.

Methods: Observational studies investigating the association between H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps using multivariate analyses were included by search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. A random-effects model was adopted to combine the results.

Results: Seventeen studies that include 322,395 participants were analyzed. It was shown that H. pylori infection was independently associated with overall colorectal polyps (odds ratio [OR]: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.24, p < 0.001; I 2 = 73%). According to the histological type of colorectal polyps, H. pylori infection was independently associated with adenomatous polyps (APs; OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.47-1.99, p < 0.001; I 2 = 86%), advanced APs (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.56-2.73, p < 0.001; I 2 = 0%), and hyperplastic polyps (HPs; OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.02-2.30, p = 0.04; I 2 = 78%). Evidence based on only one study showed that H. pylori infection was not associated with sessile serrated polyps (SSPs; OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.93-1.07, p = 0.99).

Conclusions: Current evidence from case-control and cross-sectional studies suggested that H. pylori infection was independently associated with colorectal APs, advanced APs, and HPs, but not with SSPs. These findings suggested H. pylori infection may be a possible risk factor of colorectal polyp, which is important for the prevention of colorectal polyp in the adult population.

Keywords: H. pylori infection; adenomatous polyps; colorectal polyps; hyperplastic polyps; meta-analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scheme of study inclusion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plots for the meta-analysis concerning the association between H. pylori infection and colorectal polyps; (A) the outcome of overall colorectal polyps; (B) the outcome of adenomatous polyps; (C) the outcome of advanced adenomatous polyps; and (D) the outcome of hyperplastic polyps.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Funnel plots for the meta-analyses; (A) funnel plots for the meta-analysis concerning the association between H. pylori infection and overall colorectal polyps; and (B) funnel plots for the meta-analysis concerning the association between H. pylori infection and adenomatous polyps.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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