Medication use and risk of reflux oesophagitis

Reflux oesophagitis (RO) is one of the most common diseases encountered by gastroenterologists and primary care physicians. However, few epidemiological studies have investigated the association of medication use and RO. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of RO and its risk factors, particularly with respect to medication use.

This retrospective, cross-sectional study included consecutive patients who underwent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) and were assessed using questionnaires at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan) between October 2015 and December 2021. The questionnaire collected data on patient characteristics, medical history, smoking and alcohol consumption, and medications that patients were taking at the time of OGD.

Among the 13 993 eligible patients, the prevalence of RO was 11.8%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that male sex (OR=1.52 (95% CI 1.35 to 1.72), p<0.001); obesity (OR=1.57 (95% CI 1.40 to 1.77), p<0.001); smoking (OR=1.19 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.38), p=0.026); alcohol consumption (OR=1.20 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.35), p=0.002); diabetes (OR=1.19 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.39), p=0.029); hiatal hernia (OR=3.10 (95% CI 2.78 to 3.46), p<0.001); absence of severe gastric atrophy (OR=2.14 (95% CI 0.39 to 0.56), p<0.001); and the use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (OR=1.22 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.40), p=0.007), theophylline (OR=2.13 (95% CI 1.27 to 3.56), p=0.004), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (OR=1.29 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.61), p=0.026) were independent predictors of RO.

RO was present in 11.8% of patients. Use of CCBs, theophylline, and NSAIDs were independent predictors of RO.