TBA (16S117)

Increasing BMI leads to increased incidence of GORD in an Irish Setting

Author(s)

Barry L1, Quinlivan L1, Murphy T1&2 & Buckley M1&3

Department(s)/Institutions

1GI Function Lab, Mercy University Hospital, Cork. 2Department of Upper GI Surgery, Mercy University Hospital, Cork. 3Department of Gastroenterology, Mercy University Hospital, Cork,

Introduction

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a prevalent disease worldwide particularly in the developed world. It’s increased prevalence may be attributed to the increase of obesity in the general population. 60% of the Irish population have been classified as either overweight or obese in 2015.

Aims/Background

We aim to identify how many patients seeking diagnostics from a busy GI Lab are overweight and obese and if this is likely to significantly influence their DeMeester score and number of reflux events with the aid of combined pH & impedance monitoring.

Method

BMI data of 122 consecutive patients undergoing HRiM and 24 hr Impedance pH between 09/15 and 01/16 was evaluated. The study consisted of 72 females (59%) and 50 males (41%). 5 patients out of the 122 did not have full studies and so were excluded. 117 studies were completed successfully. We applied chi-squared tests of dependence to evaluate the relationships between being overweight and obese and (i) abnormal acid reflux exposure with a raised DeMeester score and (ii) abnormal number of reflux episodes by using impedance measurements.

Results

37/117 (32%) patients were classified normal weight of these 23 were female. 51/117 (44 %) (24F) patients were classified overweight. 25/117 (21%) patients were classified as obese (19F). 65% patients were either overweight or obese, 57% of these were female. There was a statistically significant (p<0.05) relationships between both increased DeMeester score and number of reflux events in those presenting to our laboratory who are classified as being overweight and obese.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates a significant association between physiologically gastro-oesophageal reflux and BMI