Abstract
Thirty morbidly obese patients presenting forbariatric surgery were evaluated for symptomatic andobjective evidence of gastroesophageal reflux. Sixteenpatients had heartburn while 14 were asymptomatic. All underwent esophageal function testing;manometry was performed in all patients, pH monitoringin 28. Patients with esophageal pH < 4 for more than5% of observed time weighed more than those with normal acid exposure, 165.2 vs 129.8 kg (P <0.01), and had significantly higher body mass indices,56.5 vs 48.3 kg/m2 (P < 0.05). Similarly,morbidly obese patients with abnormal reflux scores weighed significantly more and hadgreater body mass indices than patients with normalscores (P < 0.05). Lower esophageal sphincterpressure was higher in patients with normal esophagealacid exposure than in those with abnormal findings,15.5 vs 12.5 mm Hg (P < 0.05). This studydemonstrates a correlation between both weight and bodymass index with gastroesophageal reflux.
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Fisher, B.L., Pennathur, A., Mutnick, J.L.M. et al. Obesity Correlates with Gastroesophageal Reflux. Dig Dis Sci 44, 2290–2294 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026617106755
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026617106755