Relationship between obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease as recorded by 3-hour esophageal pH monitoring.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a Greek cohort in relationship to the body mass index (BMI), using the 3-hr postprandial esophageal pH monitoring.


METHODS
Sixty-four consecutive patients (55 males, 9 females; mean age 40.7 +/- 13.7 years) with at least weekly attacks of heartburn or acid regurgitation for a period longer than one year, were screened endoscopically for esophagitis and underwent a 3-hr postprandial pH monitoring to quantify the reflux. DeMeester score was calculated. The patients were allocated to three groups: group A (reference group, n=23) with BMI < 25 kg/m(2) (normal); group B (n=25) with BMI 25-30 kg/m(2) (overweight), and group C (n=16) with BMI > 30 kg/m(2) (obese).


RESULTS
A higher DeMeester score, as well as a decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure were evidenced with increasing BMI. Moreover, there was an association between increasing BMI and the point scale of reflux symptoms. The number of cases with severe reflux symptoms increased significantly among overweight (odds ratio: 4.94, 95%CI: 0.95-25.56) and obese (odds ratio: 8.18, 95%CI: 1.19-56.00) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The shorter 3-hr postprandial test appears to be diagnostic for GERD and acceptable by patients, reducing discomfort and enhancing compliance. Our study confirms the link between obesity and GERD. BMI is strongly associated with the point scale of reflux symptoms both in overweight and obese patients.
Kouklakis
Georgios
G
Department of Medicine, Second Medical Clinic, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ippokration Hospital, Macedonia, Greece. gut@in.gr
Moschos
John
J
Kountouras
Jannis
J
Mpoumponaris
Alexandros
A
Molyvas
Epaminondas
E
Minopoulos
Georgios
G
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index