The causal effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on coronary heart disease is mediated by the body mass index: a Mendelian randomization study

Abstract

The association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and coronary heart disease (CHD) remains controversial, with an unclear causal link. This study employed bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) method, using H. pylori infection as the exposure, to investigate its causal relationship with CHD diagnosis, prognosis, and potential pathogenesis. H. pylori infection exhibited a causal association with body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.022; 95% CI 0.008–0.036; p = 0.001). Conversely, there was no discernible connection between H. pylori infection and the diagnosis of CHD (OR = 0.991; 95% CI 0.904–1.078; p = 0.842; IEU database; OR = 1.049; 95% CI 0.980–1.118; p = 0.178; FinnGen database) or CHD prognosis (OR = 0.999; 95% CI 0.997–1.001; p = 0.391; IEU database; OR = 1.022; 95% CI 0.922–1.123; p = 0.663; FinnGen database). Reverse MR analysis showed no causal effect of CHD on H. pylori infection. Our findings further support that H. pylori infection exerts a causal effect on CHD incidence, mediated by BMI. Consequently, eradicating or preventing H. pylori infection may provide an indirect clinical benefit for patients with CHD.