Relationship between body mass and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms: The Bristol Helicobacter Project.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between body mass and gastro-oesophageal reflux in a large population-representative sample from the UK.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based study, as part of a randomized controlled trial of eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection, in Southwest England. Subjects In all, 10 537 subjects, aged 20-59 years, were recruited from seven general practices. Subjects provided data on frequency and severity of dyspeptic symptoms and anthropometric measurements were taken.


METHODS
Relationship between overweight (body mass index [BMI] >/=25 kg/m(2) and </=30 kg/m(2)) or obesity (BMI >30 kg/m(2)) and frequency and severity of heartburn and acid regurgitation.


RESULTS
Body mass index was strongly positively related to the frequency of symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for frequency of heartburn and acid regurgitation occurring at least once a week in overweight participants compared with those of normal weight were 1.82 (95% CI: 1.33-2.50) and 1.50 (95% CI: 1.13-1.99) respectively. Corresponding OR (95% CI) relating to obese patients were 2.91 (95% CI: 2.07-4.08) and 2.23 (95% CI: 1.44-3.45) respectively. The OR for moderate to severe reflux symptoms were raised in overweight and obese subjects but not to the same extent as frequency of symptoms and only the relationship between obesity and severity of heartburn reached conventional statistical significance: OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.07-1.33.


CONCLUSIONS
Being above normal weight substantially increases the likelihood of suffering from heartburn and acid regurgitation and obese people are almost three times as likely to experience these symptoms as those of normal weight.
Murray
Liam
L
The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT12 5BJ, UK. l.murray@qub.ac.uk
Johnston
Brian
B
Lane
Athene
A
Harvey
Ian
I
Donovan
Jenny
J
Nair
Prakash
P
Harvey
Richard
R
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D016017:Odds Ratio