Abstract
Objective: We investigated the risk factors of reflux esophagitis in healthy individuals focusing on lifestyle diseases, including metabolic syndrome, and reflux symptoms.
Methods: Our subjects were taken from 1,531 persons (884 males, 647 females) who underwent endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract during Ningen Dock from January 2003 to November 2008. Those who had undergone surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract, those taking medication for diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and hyperuricemia, and those with viral liver diseases and chronic liver diseases were excluded.
Results: Reflux esophagitis was observed in many men, with central obesity, metabolic syndrome and smoking as risk factors. In an analysis of a relationship between reflux symptoms and reflux esophagitis, there was a significant incidence of reflux esophagitis in persons with heartburn and the incidence of reflux esophagitis in subjects with many upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms was also significantly higher.
Conclusion: When heartburn or other reflux symptoms are present, endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract should be conducted to check whether there is reflux esophagitis or not. Also in the case that a diagnosis of reflux esophagitis is accompanied by central obesity and metabolic syndrome, guidance on diet and exercise is important. Guidance regarding smoking cessation would also be important.
