Correlation of endoscopic severity of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with Body Mass Index (BMI).
OBJECTIVE
To assess the correlation of endoscopic severity of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with Body Mass Index (BMI).


METHODS
Cross-sectional/analytical.


METHODS
Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital and Surgimed Hospital, Lahore, from September 2004 to March 2006.


METHODS
This study was conducted on 203 patients, who presented with upper GI symptoms. Patients who fulfilled the symptom criteria were referred for endoscopy. Classification of GERD was done according to LA Grading classification system. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as Body Weight (BW) in kilograms (kg) divided by the square of the body height (BH) in meter (m2). Patient data was analyzed using SPSS 12 software. Statistical evaluation was done using non-parametric Wilcoxon's-sign Rank test. P-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.


RESULTS
Distribution of GERD was as follows: GERD-A subjects 65 (32%), GERD B subjects 72 (35.4%), GERD-C subjects 23 (11.3%), GERD-D subjects 10 (4.92%), while Non-Erosive Reflux Disease (NERD) was present in 33 subjects (16.2%). Mean BMI was 27+/-5.02 SD (range of 18.2-38.3). BMI of patients having NERD was in normal range but patients who were having advanced disease i.e. Grade C-D were in obese range of BMI, while those who were having LA grade A-B were in overweight BMI range. When regrouped as mild GERD (grade A-B) and NERD versus severe GERD (grade C-D), there was a strong significant correlation between severity of GERD and BMI, as detected by Wilcoxon's signed Rank test (p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher BMI seems to be associated with higher degree of endoscopic GERD severity.
Zafar
Shamail
S
Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore. shamail@doctor.com
Israr ul Haq
Butt
Anjum Rasheed
AR
Shafiq
Fuad
F
Mirza
Huda G
HG
Ameed-ur-Rehman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile