title: Gastroesophageal reflux in alcohol-abusing patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consumption of large amounts of alcohol can promote regurgitation of hydrochloric acid into the esophagus and therefore cause symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Most individuals who experience alcohol-related health problems are not addicted to alcohol, but they usually show a hazardous pattern of alcohol consumption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Objectives The aim of the study was to examine the gastrointestinal tract in hazardous drinkers and to establish whether such alcohol consumption pattern may be an important risk factor for developing gastroesophageal reflux.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary care patients (n = 2000; mean age 41.1 years) from Warsaw, Poland, responded to 2 surveys: AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and Carlsson's questionnaire. Patients characterized as hazardous drinkers and having symptoms of reflux disease entered the second phase of the study: gastroscopy and pH-metry. The results were compared with those obtained in the control group (n = 60), which included patients with reflux symptoms but who abstained from alcohol or were moderate drinkers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the survey results, 18.75% of the study group showed a hazardous pattern of alcohol consumption, while 33% had symptoms of gastrointestinal reflux disease. A positive pH-metry result was observed in 87.5% of the hazardous drinkers. Endoscopic features of esophagitis were observed in 64% of the patient group and 28% of the control group. Hazardous alcohol consumption and male sex may be the risk factors for developing reflux-related esophagitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary care physicians should routinely ask their patients about alcohol consumption. Hazardous alcohol drinking may be a risk factor for developing reflux disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Education of Family Doctors, The Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education, Warszawa, Poland. annaboguradzka@o2.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boguradzka
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tarnowski
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cabaj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult