title: Central Obesity and H. pylori Infection Influence Risk of Barrett's Esophagus in an Asian Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence rates of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in western countries are higher than Asian ones, but little is known about their difference among risk factors of BE. The aim of this study is to investigate the associations of various risk factors including central obesity, body mass index (BMI), metabolic syndrome and H. pylori infection, with BE.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 161 subjects with BE were enrolled and compared to age- and gender-matched controls randomly sampled (1:4) from check-up center in same hospital. Central obesity was defined by waist circumference (female>80cm; male>90cm), metabolic syndrome by the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria in Taiwan. Independent risk factors for BE were identified by multiple logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age for BE was 53.8±13.7 years and 75.8% was male. H. pylori infection status was detected by the rapid urease test with the prevalence of 28.4% and 44.4% in the BE patients and controls, respectively. The univariate logistic regression analyses showed the risk was associated with higher waist circumference (odds ratio [OR], 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78-3.60), metabolic syndrome (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.38-2.96) and negative H. pylori infection (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34-0.74). However, multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that BE associated with higher waist circumference (adjusted OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.89-4.12) and negative H. pylori infection (adjusted OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.30-0.70).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Central obesity is associated with a higher risk of BE whereas H. pylori infection with a lower risk in an ethnic Chinese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|School of Medicine and Big Data Research Centre, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Tai
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Lun
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Tien
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|School of Medicine and Big Data Research Centre, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jaw-Town
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|School of Medicine and Big Data Research Centre, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Yang
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6936-5142
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology*