Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on growth trajectories in young Ethiopian children: a longitudinal study

Taye, Bineyam; Enquselassie, Fikre; Tsegaye, Aster; Amberbir, Alemayehu; Medhin, Girmay; Fogarty, Andrew; Robinson, Karen; Davey, Gail

Abstract

Background
Helicobacter pylori infection has been associated with early childhood growth impairment in high- and middle-income countries; however, few studies have examined this relationship within low-income countries or have used a longitudinal design. The possible effects of H. pylori infection on growth trajectories were examined in a cohort of young Ethiopian children.
Methods
In 2011/12, 856 children (85.1% of the 1006 original singletons in a population-based birth cohort) were followed up at age 6.5 years. An interviewer-led questionnaire administered to mothers provided information on demographic and lifestyle variables. Height and weight were measured twice, and the average of the two measurements was used. Exposure to H. pylori infection was assessed using a rapid H. pylori stool antigen test. The independent associations of positive H. pylori infection status (measured at ages 3 and 6.5 years) with baseline height and weight (age 3 years) and height and weight growth trajectory (from age 3 to 6.5 years) were modelled using hierarchical linear models.
Results
At baseline (age 3 years), the children's mean height was 85.7 cm and their mean weight was 11.9 kg. They gained height at a mean rate of 8.7 cm/year, and weight at a mean rate of 1.76 kg/year. H. pylori infection was associated with lower baseline measurements and linear height trajectory (β = −0.74 cm and −0.79 cm/year, respectively), after controlling for demographics and markers of socio-economic status. However, the positive coefficient was associated with quadratic growth in height among H. pylori-infected children (β = 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.49, p < 0.01), and indicated an increase in height trajectory as the child increased in age. A non-significant difference in baseline and trajectory of weight was observed between H. pylori-infected and non-infected children.
Conclusions
These findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting that H. pylori infection is inversely associated with childhood growth trajectory, after controlling for a range of factors associated with reduced growth and H. pylori status. Further follow-up will be important to confirm possible catch-up in height trajectory among H. pylori-infected children as they grow older.

Citation

Taye, B., Enquselassie, F., Tsegaye, A., Amberbir, A., Medhin, G., Fogarty, A., Robinson, K., & Davey, G. (2016). Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on growth trajectories in young Ethiopian children: a longitudinal study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 50, 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.08.005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 8, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Aug 12, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Deposit Date: Oct 15, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 15, 2018
• Journal: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Print ISSN: 1201-9712
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-3511
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Pages: 57-66
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.08.005
• Keywords: Microbiology (medical); Infectious Diseases; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1164935
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971216311304
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on growth trajectories in young Ethiopian children: a longitudinal study; Journal Title: International Journal of Infectious Diseases; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.08.005; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.
• Contract Date: Oct 15, 2018