Association between seropositivity and hypertension among adults in Northern Sudan: a community-based case–control study

Objective The association between Helicobacter pylori and hypertension is unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the association between H. pylori and hypertension among adults in Sudan. Methods We conducted a community-based case–control study (175 participants in each arm) in the Wad Hamid district in northern Sudan. Cases comprised adults with hypertension and controls were non-hypertensive adults. We assessed participants' data using a questionnaire. We also conducted rapid H. pylori antibody tests and binary and linear regression analyses. Results Multivariable logistic regression revealed age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.07), female sex (AOR 5.50, 95% CI 2.36–12.80), and body mass index (AOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07–1.17) were significantly associated with hypertension. Moreover, compared with controls, a significantly higher number of patients with hypertension were positive for H. pylori (82/175, 46.9% vs. 46/175, 26.3%). H. pylori seropositivity was associated with systolic blood pressure (coefficient 3.811), diastolic blood pressure (coefficient 3.492), mean blood pressure (coefficient 3.599), and hypertension (AOR 3.15, 95% CI 1.82–5.46). Conclusion Our study revealed a significant positive association between H. pylori seropositivity and hypertension. This finding supports literature recommending the eradication of H. pylori to prevent hypertension and its complications.