Gender-related differences in upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings: an assessment of 4,700 cases from Iran

Regarding the high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in our country, the probable overuse or even late usage of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for unnecessary reasons and gender influences on both internal and external fate and effects, we decided to evaluate the gender-related differences in upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings to provide gastroenterologists with information which they can perform better interpretation of their patient's symptoms before performing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

A descriptive cross-sectional study performed to evaluate gender-related differences in the upper endoscopy findings.

The study was performed in the upper endoscopy ward of a general hospital in Tehran, Iran.

Four thousand and seven hundred Iranian patients undergo upper endoscopy between 1992 and 2002.

Upper endoscopy findings

After age adjustment, oesophageal tumour, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastric tumour, oesophageal varices, gastritis, hiatal hernia, gastric ulcer and erosive gastropathy, all p < 0.001 were significantly more common among men rather than women. Male gender predicts the presence of hiatal hernia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.9, p < 0.001), GERD (OR = 1.6, p < .001), gastric ulcer (OR = 2.3, p < 0.001), duodenal ulcer (OR = 2.3, p < 0.001) and duodenal varices (OR = .6, p = .044).

Backward study

Our regression models revealed that male gender is a risk factor for hiatal hernia, GERD, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer but not for other upper endoscopic findings.