Frequency of Anemia in Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Quetta

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is among the most common chronic bacterial infections worldwide, and beyond its established role in peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies, evidence supports an association with iron-deficiency anemia. Mechanisms include impaired gastric acid secretion, chronic mucosal blood loss, and hepcidin-mediated reduction in iron absorption. Both anemia and H. pylori are highly prevalent in South Asia, yet data from Quetta, Pakistan, remain scarce. Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity distribution of anemia in adult patients with confirmed H. pylori infection at a tertiary care hospital in Quetta, and to assess demographic correlates of anemia. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, between December 2024 and May 2025. Consecutive adults with stool antigen or urea breath test–confirmed H. pylori infection were enrolled. Demographic, clinical, and hematological data were recorded. Hemoglobin was measured using automated analysis, and anemia was defined by WHO criteria. Data were analyzed with t-tests and chi-square tests in SPSS version 24. Results: Among 100 patients (52 males, 48 females; mean age 38.6 ± 12.4 years), anemia was present in 45%. Prevalence was significantly higher in females (56.3%) compared with males (34.6%, p=0.031). Anemic patients had lower mean hemoglobin (10.8 ± 1.2 g/dL) than non-anemic individuals (13.5 ± 1.1 g/dL, p<0.001). Conclusion: Anemia was common among H. pylori-infected patients in Quetta, particularly in women. Integrated strategies combining routine anemia screening, eradication therapy, and nutritional support are warranted to reduce disease burden