Etiologies and clinical characteristics of non-obstructive dysphagia in a Taiwanese population: A prospective study...

Esophageal motility disorders are the major cause of non-obstructive dysphagia (NOD), but may be underdiagnosed. In this high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM)-based study, we aimed to clarify the etiologies and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with NOD in a Taiwanese population.

From October 2014 to July 2017, consecutive patients with the chief complaint of dysphagia were prospectively enrolled in the study at a tertiary medical center. All subjects underwent a comprehensive diagnostic work-up, which included validated symptom questionnaires, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, timed barium esophagogram, and HRIM. Those with obstructive esophageal lesions were excluded. Esophageal motility disorders were diagnosed using the updated Chicago Classification v3.0. We categorized all patients based on the HRIM results, and compared the clinical characteristics and parameters between groups.

A total of 120 patients (55 men; mean age [range], 52 [13-87] years) were analyzed. Achalasia was the most common diagnosis by HRIM (n = 66, 55%), followed by ineffective esophageal motility (n = 15, 12.5%), and absent contractility (n = 6, 5%). Patients with achalasia experienced increased vomiting (62.1% vs. 31.5%, p = 0.001), significant weight loss (22.7% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.025), delayed esophageal emptying (90.9% vs. 12.9%, p < 0.001), and abnormal bolus transit (100% vs. 25.9%, p < 0.001) compared with non-achalasia patients.

Based on HRIM and the updated Chicago Classification, achalasia was the most common diagnosis of NOD in a Taiwanese population. HRIM allows for a more detailed assessment and may assist in the tailoring of further treatment plans.