Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Esophagitis

Wednesday September 17, 2008
Metabolic syndrome is the name given for people who have several medical disorders at the same time, and which can significantly increase an individual's risk of heart disease.

These risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, and high body fat levels (BMI). Now, metabolic syndrome may also be linked to esophagitis.

Past studies have shown a link between obesity and GERD symptoms, and a link between a person's BMI and GERD.

Dr. Donghee Kim, from Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center in South Korea, and a group of researchers wrote in the journal Gut about a study they conducted to examine a possible relationship between esophagitis and metabolic syndrome.

For the study, approximately 3539 men and women with esophagitis and the same number of patients without the disease who were of similar age participated.

The researchers found that, in total, 27% of the participants with esophagitis had the metabolic syndrome, compared with just over 18% of those without esophagitis. The researchers, therefore, calculated that the metabolic syndrome is associated with a 47% increased risk of reflux oesophagitis.

Further analysis revealed that, among the various components of the metabolic syndrome, waist circumference, body fat levels, and abdominal obesity were significantly, and independently, associated with an increased risk of reflux esophagitis.

The researchers concluded, therefore, that esophagitis was associated with metabolic syndrome.

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