Obesity-An Impactful Risk Factor for Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease

Abstract

Objective: To determine over-weight and obesity  as  risk  factors  for  Gastro-oesophageal  reflux  dis-  ease (GERD) in the outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: One hundred patients of  both  genders,  presenting  with  symptoms  of  GERD  were  selected as cases and one hundred controls from attendants of various patients not suffering  from  GERD  by random sampling during October 2016 to April 2017. Both the cases and controls were weighed (kilo- grams) and their heights (centimetres) were measured. Their  BMIs  (body  mass  index)  were  calcu-  lated. The cases and controls were then categorised into  normal  weight,  over  weight  and  obese  subjects on basis of BMI by WHO criteria. Subjects, with ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, peptic ulcer disease those taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory  drugs),  and  steroids were excluded.

Results: In this present study, the frequency (the percentage) of male and female was 48.5%, 51.5% respectively. It was found that there were about 52.0% and 48.0% males and females respectively in controls while 45.0% and 55.0% in case. Mean and SD of weight of cases and controls were as 73.17 ± 9.853 kg and 68.78 ± 6.738 kg respectively. The p-value=0.000 showing that there was a significant association between BMI and outcomes i.e. occurrence of GERD (cases and  controls).

Conclusion: This study showed that over-weight and obesity were associated with a statistically  significant increase in the risk for GERD symptoms i.e. increased by 3 times in all patients, 2 times in males and 7 times in females.