ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2000 December;46(4):193-8

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Reflux oesophagitis and risk factors. Results of a population study

Spaziani E., Mingoli A., Catani M., Di Filippo A., Del Duca P., De Milito R., Siciliano P., De Santis M., Cotesta D.

Background. To evaluate the prevalence and endoscopic grade of reflux oesophagitis (RO) and to correlate them to symptoms and to a list of risk factors including age, sex, weight, smoking, alchool, work, hiatus hernia.
Methods. This study was carried out in Roccacorga (LT), a little town of 3435 inhabitants in central Italy. The sample totalled 1084 volunteers, aged over 18 years old and enlisted in opened cohort. After filling in the questionaire, all the patients were subjected to esophagogastroduodenoscopy without eating for at least six hours and diazepam pretreated (10 mg ev). Three biopsies were routine performed on the 3 biopsies on distal esophageous wall. The RO range was evaluated according to the Savary-Miller classification.
Results. The RO was found in 443 patients (188 M, 42%; 255 F, 58%) (p<0.0002), a large number of asymptomatic patients (39%). The prevalence of hiatus hernia was 7.2%, RO associated in 60.3% (p<0005). The prevalence of associated gastroduodenal injuries was pointed out (p<0.03). Patients affected only by RO were mostly female (p<0.02). Precancerous esophageous were 0,37%.
Conclusions. According to this study the RO diagnosed through endoscopy is much more prevalent than supposed, especially among females and it affects a younger age than reported (31-50 years). Smoking and alchool are among male risk factors, while, in female, agricultural works, weight and hormonal state could have a leading role (p=NS).