Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality globally. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of CAD are not fully understood. The aim of the present meta‑analysis was to estimate the association between the risk of CAD and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. A literature search was performed to identify eligible studies published prior to August 14, 2014. Fixed or random effect meta‑analytical methods were used to pool the data and perform the subgroup analyses. The effect measures estimated were the odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous data reported with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Of the 109 studies identified using the search parameters, 26 cross‑sectional studies were eligible involving 3,901 CAD patients and 2,751 controls. H. pylori infection was associated with an increased risk of CAD (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.47‑2.63, P<0.00001). When the adjusted ORs were used to conduct another meta‑analysis, the OR value decreased, but the association remained significant (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.09‑1.86, P=0.008). The association between H. pylori infection and CAD risk was stronger in younger individuals than in older individuals (OR: 2.36, 95% CI 1.50‑3.73 vs. OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.19‑2.11). A significant association was observed in studies from Europe (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.54‑2.88, P=0.01) and the USA (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.08‑1.91, P=0.36). There is a potential association between H. pylori infection and the risk of CAD. The association may be influenced by age and ethnicity.

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