High prevalence of asymptomatic esophageal motility disorders among morbidly obese patients.
BACKGROUND
Morbid obesity is becoming more prevalent in the industrialized world. Few data exist regarding the resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and esophageal motility in relationship to body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
During a 3-year period, 111 of 152 morbidly obese patients seeking bariatric surgery completed esophageal manometric testing and questionnaire regarding esophageal symptoms. Manometric parameters included wave amplitude and duration of esophageal contractions, percentage of peristaltic function, and resting LESP. Questionnaire data included age, sex, medications, prior medical conditions, and esophageal symptoms.


RESULTS
88 (79%) of the patients were female; 23 (21%) were male. The mean age was 39.8 years (+/- 9.9), the mean BMI was 50.7 kg/m2 (+/- 9.4). There was a lack of correlation between BMI and LESP (r = 0.04). Abnormal manometric findings were observed in 68/111 (61%) patients: 28 (25%) had only hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter (LESP < 10 mm Hg); 16 (14%) had nutcracker esophagus (amplitude >180 mm Hg), 15 (14%) had nonspecific esophageal motility disorders, 8 (7%) had diffuse esophageal spasm (DES), and 1 (1%) had achalasia. Patients with DES had a significantly higher BMI than those with other motility disorders (P < 0.05). Dysphagia was reported in 7 (6%) patients and chest pain in 1 patient. Heartburn and/or regurgitation (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD) was noted in 35 patients (32%), of whom 18 (51%) had a hypotensive resting LES. 40 of 68 patients (59%) with abnormal motility tracings did not report any esophageal symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Morbid obesity per se does not imply an abnormality of LESP. In addition, a majority of morbidly obese patients who were considering bariatric surgery had no esophageal symptoms but were found to have abnormal esophageal manometric patterns. These findings add support to the suggestion that morbidly obese patients may have abnormal visceral sensation.
Jaffin
B W
BW
Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Knoepflmacher
P
P
Greenstein
R
R
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires