Gender-specific association of Helicobacter pylori infection and the thyroid disease in Chinese adults

Abstract

Abstract Background The association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and thyroid disease is still controversial. Chinese adults have an extremely high prevalence of H. pylori infection. The incidence of thyroid diseases has obvious gender difference. The aim of this study was to determine the gender-specific association between H. pylori infection and thyroid disease in Chinese adults. Design: Retrospective analyzed the data of subjects underwent routine physical check-up in the Public Health Center of our hospital between 2019 and 2021. The data included anthropometry and blood biochemical indicators. The serum levels thyroid hormones and thyroid autoantibodies were detected. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed by experienced technicians. The diagnosis of thyroid nodules was according to the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS). Results The women with positive H. pylori had significantly lower FT4 levels, statistically higher uTSH levels, higher prevalence of hypothyroidism, and higher prevalence of positive TPOAb than the women with negative H. pylori. Men with positive H. pylori had significantly higher SBP, statistically lower TT4 and FT4 than the men with negative H. pylori. The prevalence of thyroid heterogeneous echogenicity and TNs in H. pylori positive and negative subjects had no significant difference in both genders. Conclusions The results indicated the prevalence of hypothyroidism and TPOAb positivity was more frequent in females with Helicobacter pylori infection. H. pylori infection may be associated with AITDs in females, but not males. There was no significant association between H. pylori infection and the risk of TNs types in both gender.