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Impedance pH confirms the relationship between GERD and BMI
Nasser Hajar1, Donald O Castell, Hassan Ghomrawi
1Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. dr-hajar@hotmail.com
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|March 28, 2012
Summary
Higher BMI is linked to increased reflux events, particularly nonacid reflux, and a greater likelihood of symptoms correlating with reflux. This finding highlights the impact of obesity on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Obesity Medicine
Background:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obesity prevalence have risen in the US over the past two decades.
- The complex relationship and pathophysiology between GERD and obesity remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and GERD.
- To utilize multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH (MII-pH) monitoring for GERD detection in relation to BMI.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 122 MII-pH studies in adult patients on proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy.
- Patients were categorized into normal (BMI < 25), overweight (BMI 25–29.9), and obese (BMI ≥ 30) groups.
- Reflux episodes (acid and nonacid) and symptom index (SI) were evaluated; recumbent reflux was also compared across BMI groups.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in total reflux episodes and nonacid reflux (NAR) was observed with rising BMI.
- No significant difference in acid reflux (AR) was found across BMI groups.
- Recumbent reflux episodes also significantly increased with higher BMI, and the symptom index (SI) was more frequently positive in the obese group.
Conclusions:
- This study demonstrates a clear link between elevated BMI and increased reflux events detected by MII-pH.
- Obesity not only increases the frequency of reflux events but also enhances the probability that reported symptoms are attributable to MII-detected reflux.
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