Esophagitis in a high H. pylori prevalence area: severe disease is rare but concomitant peptic ulcer is frequent.
BACKGROUND
Few data are available on the prevalence of erosive and severe esophagitis in Western countries.


OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively determine the prevalence and the factors predicting erosive esophagitis and severe esophagitis in a large series of endoscopies in Spain.


METHODS
Retrospective observational study. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine variables predicting severe esophagitis.


METHODS
Databases of 29 Spanish endoscopy units.


METHODS
Patients submitted to a diagnostic endoscopy during the year 2005.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the databases.


METHODS
Esophagitis severity (graded according to the Los Angeles classification) and associated endoscopic findings.


RESULTS
Esophagitis was observed in 8.7% of the 93,699 endoscopies reviewed. Severe esophagitis (LA grade C or D) accounted for 22.5% of cases of the disease and was found in 1.9% of all endoscopies. Incidences of esophagitis and those of severe esophagitis were 86.2 and 18.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year respectively. Male sex (OR 1.89) and advanced age (OR 4.2 for patients in the fourth age quartile) were the only variables associated with severe esophagitis. Associated peptic ulcer was present in 8.8% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Retrospective study, no data on individual proton pump inhibitors use.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe esophagitis is an infrequent finding in Spain. It occurs predominantly in males and in older individuals. Peptic ulcer disease is frequently associated with erosive esophagitis.
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitari La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
Julio
J
Ponce
Xavier
X
Calvet
Marta
M
Gallach
Marta
M
Ponce
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004724:Endoscopy; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult