RESUMO
BACKGROUND: A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic urticaria. METHODS: We searched Chinese and English databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, and Weipu, using search terms such as Helicobacter pylori infection, and chronic urticaria for articles published from the establishment of the databases to February 2021 examining the correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic urticaria. The retrieved articles contained data on Helicobacter pylori infection rates in chronic urticaria cases in different regions of the north and south in China. The retrieved articles underwent strict screenings according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Revman5.3 software was used to perform a meta-analysis on the data of the included articles. RESULTS: A total of 39 documents were retrieved following the searches. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 6 articles on 6 studies, comprising a total of 1,320 patients, were finally included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that the heterogeneity was high (I2=58%). A random-effects model was performed. An analysis of the correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic urticaria revealed significant differences between the study group and the control group [odds ratio (OR) =3.00; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.98-4.55; P<0.00001]. The infection rate of Helicobacter pylori among chronic urticaria cases in the northern population was 16.1% (95% CI: 15.6-16.6%); of these patients 12.2% were male and 21.4% were female. The infection rate of Helicobacter pylori among chronic urticaria cases in the southern population was 18.0% (95% CI: 17.5-18.5%); of these patients, 12.3% were male and 23.1% were female. There was no significant difference in the prevalence between the male population, the female population, and the general population in the north and the south (P>0.05). DISCUSSION: Helicobacter pylori infection is correlated with the occurrence of chronic urticaria. There is no significant difference in the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in chronic urticaria cases in different regions of the north and south. This study had some limitations. First, the number of patients included in each study was low, which may affect the accuracy of the results. Second, the detection methods were not uniform; thus, further research is required to support the conclusions drawn.