Socio-economic status and lifestyle factors are associated with achalasia risk: A population-based case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between various lifestyle factors and achalasia risk.


METHODS
A population-based case-control study was conducted in Northern Ireland, including n = 151 achalasia cases and n = 117 age- and sex-matched controls. Lifestyle factors were assessed via a face-to-face structured interview. The association between achalasia and lifestyle factors was assessed by unconditional logistic regression, to produce odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).


RESULTS
Individuals who had low-class occupations were at the highest risk of achalasia (OR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.02-3.45), inferring that high-class occupation holders have a reduced risk of achalasia. A history of foreign travel, a lifestyle factor linked to upper socio-economic class, was also associated with a reduced risk of achalasia (OR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.35-0.99). Smoking and alcohol consumption carried significantly reduced risks of achalasia, even after adjustment for socio-economic status. The presence of pets in the house was associated with a two-fold increased risk of achalasia (OR = 2.00, 95%CI: 1.17-3.42). No childhood household factors were associated with achalasia risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Achalasia is a disease of inequality, and individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds are at highest risk. This does not appear to be due to corresponding alcohol and smoking behaviours. An observed positive association between pet ownership and achalasia risk suggests an interaction between endotoxin and viral infection exposure in achalasia aetiology.
Helen G Coleman, Ronan T Gray, Kar W Lau, Liam J Murray, Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom.
Helen G
HG
Coleman
Helen G Coleman, Ronan T Gray, Kar W Lau, Liam J Murray, Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom.
Ronan T
RT
Gray
Helen G Coleman, Ronan T Gray, Kar W Lau, Liam J Murray, Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom.
Kar W
KW
Lau
Helen G Coleman, Ronan T Gray, Kar W Lau, Liam J Murray, Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom.
Conall
C
McCaughey
Helen G Coleman, Ronan T Gray, Kar W Lau, Liam J Murray, Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom.
Peter V
PV
Coyle
Helen G Coleman, Ronan T Gray, Kar W Lau, Liam J Murray, Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom.
Liam J
LJ
Murray
Helen G Coleman, Ronan T Gray, Kar W Lau, Liam J Murray, Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BJ, United Kingdom.
Brian T
BT
Johnston
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D016017:Odds Ratio; D057805:Pets; D065840:Protective Factors; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014195:Travel
Achalasia; Epidemiology; Lifestyle; Risk factors; Socio-economic status