SARS-CoV-2 and Helicobacter pylori and some hematological parameters: A case–control study

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 associated with bacterial infection represents a serious public health challenge. Recently, there is a remarkable increase in the number of researches that confirms the effect of Helicobacter pylori on pulmonary diseases. Aim: The goal of this research was to see how H. pylori affected the presentation of COVID-19 infections as a prospective risk factor. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted in Babylon, Iraq, from January 1, 2022, to March 5, 2022. A total of 180 people were engaged in this study, with 90 patients identified with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction testing and 90 people serving as a control group. Antibody screening assays on blood samples were used to look for antibodies against H. pylori. The samples were processed for complete blood count and ABO blood group. Results: COVID-19 infection was more frequent in females than in males, especially between 31 and 45 years. When compared to healthy people, COVID-19 patients had a higher white blood cell count (P = 0.0001) and a lower lymphocyte count (P = 0.0001). H. pylori and COVID-19 have been found to have a strong relationship, especially in females. When comparing patients to healthy people, blood group A is the most common. Conclusion: People with H. pylori infections are considerably more sensitive to COVID-19 than people without H. pylori infections (P = 0.011). In combination with SARS-CoV-2, IgG for H. pylori might be a risk factor.