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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2007; 13(34): 4602-4605
Published online Sep 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i34.4602
Prevalence of overweightedness in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux
Luca Piretta, Federico Alghisi, Fiorella Anzini, Enrico Corazziari
Luca Piretta, Federico Alghisi, Fiorella Anzini, Enrico Corazziari, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche, Gastroenterologia A, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, Viale del Policlinico, 155-00161 Roma, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Enrico Corazziari, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche, Gastroenterologia A, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, Viale del Policlinico, 155-00161 Roma, Italy. enrico.corazziari@uniroma1.it
Telephone: +39-6-49978384 Fax: +39-6-49978385
Received: May 23, 2007
Revised: June 2, 2007
Accepted: June 9, 2007
Published online: September 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate whether the prevalence of overweight and obese conditions is increased in gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients (with 24-h pathological pH recordings) in comparison to general population.

METHODS: A total of 196 consecutive patients (103 females, age range 18-83 years) with symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and 24-h pathological esophageal pH-metry. Body mass index (BMI) of the patients was calculated and its distribution (%) was compared with that of the Italian general population as assessed by National Bureau of Census (ISTAT). To evaluate the association of GERD with weight categories, the binomial test was employed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: In males, overweightedness (BMI 25-25.9) was present in 43% of GERD patients vs 41.8% of Italian population (IP) (ns), obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in 10.9% vs 9.1% (ns). In females overweight was present in 34.9% of GERD patients vs 25.7% of IP (P < 0.01), obesity in 13.6% of GERD patients vs 9.1% of IP (P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were noted in different age classes.

CONCLUSION: In comparison to the Italian general population, the prevalence of overweightedness and obesity is increased in female but not in male patients with ascertained gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Keywords: Gastro-esophageal reflux; Obesity; Overweight; 24-h pH-metry; Body mass index