Gender, medication use and other factors associated with esophageal motility disorders in non-obstructive dysphagia

High-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) is the diagnostic test of choice for evaluation of non-obstructive dysphagia. Studies regarding the predictors of esophageal dysmotility are limited. Therefore, our aim was to study the prevalence of and factors associated with esophageal motility disorders in patients with non-obstructive dysphagia.

We performed a retrospective review of all patients with non-obstructive dysphagia who underwent HREM in a tertiary center between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015. After obtaining IRB approval (16-051), clinical records were scrutinized for demographic data, symptoms, medication use, upper endoscopic findings and esophageal pH findings. HREM plots were classified per Chicago Classification version 3.0. Primary outcome was prevalence of esophageal motility disorders; secondary outcomes assessed predictive factors.

In total, 155 patients with non-obstructive dysphagia (55 ± 16 years old, 72% female) were identified. HREM diagnosis was normal in 49% followed by ineffective esophageal motility in 20%, absent contractility in 7.1%, achalasia type II in 5.8%, outflow obstruction in 5.2%, jackhammer esophagus in 4.5%, distal esophageal spasm in 3.9%, fragment peristalsis in 1.9%, achalasia type I in 1.9%, and achalasia type III in 0.6%. Men were five times more likely to have achalasia than women [odds ratio (OR) 5.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0-14.2; P = 0.001]. Patients with erosive esophagitis (OR 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1-7.7; P = 0.027) or using calcium channel blockers (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2-7.4; P = 0.015) were three times more likely to have hypomotility disorders.

From this study, we concluded that HREM diagnosis per Chicago Classification version 3.0 was normal in 49% of patients with non-obstructive dysphagia. Male gender, erosive esophagitis and use of calcium channel blockers were predictive of esophageal motility disorders.