title: The association between body mass index and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the World Trade Center Health Program General Responder Cohort.
abstract: There is increasing concern about the obesity epidemic in the United States. Obesity is a potential risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This analysis examined whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with physician-diagnosed GERD in World Trade Center (WTC) general responders.
  
  
  
  19,819 WTC general responders were included in the study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compare time to GERD diagnosis among three BMI groups (normal (<25 kg/m(2) ), overweight (≥25 and <30 kg/m(2) ), and obese (≥30 kg/m(2) )).
  
  
  
  Among the responders, 43% were overweight and 42% were obese. The hazard ratio for normal versus overweight was 0.81 (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 0.75-0.88); normal versus obese 0.71 (95%CI, 0.66, 0.77); and overweight versus obese 0.88 (95%CI, 0.83-0.92).
  
  
  
  GERD diagnoses rates were higher in overweight and obese WTC responders. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:761-766, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Nikolina
authors: N
authors: Icitovic
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Lynn C
authors: LC
authors: Onyebeke
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Sylvan
authors: S
authors: Wallenstein
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Christopher R
authors: CR
authors: Dasaro
authors: Department of Environmental Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center/New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Harrison
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Jieying
authors: J
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Julia R
authors: JR
authors: Kaplan
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Roberto G
authors: RG
authors: Lucchini
authors: Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York.
authors: Benjamin J
authors: BJ
authors: Luft
authors: Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York.
authors: Jacqueline M
authors: JM
authors: Moline
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Lakshmi
authors: L
authors: Pendem
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Moshe
authors: M
authors: Shapiro
authors: Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, Piscataway, New Jersey.
authors: Iris G
authors: IG
authors: Udasin
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Andrew C
authors: AC
authors: Todd
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors: Susan L
authors: SL
authors: Teitelbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D056865:Ideal Body Weight; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks
keywords: 9/11; BMI; GERD; World Trade Center