Clinical Features and Endoscopic Findings Detected in Patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis During a Medical Check-up

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the clinical features and endoscopic findings in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) during a medical check-up.

Methods: This observational study was conducted on patients diagnosed with EoE during a physical examination at the MedCity21, Osaka City University, and randomly recruited age- and sex-matched healthy controls (1:1 ratio). Clinical characteristics, gastrointestinal endoscopic findings, and standard physical examination findings were analyzed using univariate analyses and compared between the patient and control groups, using multivariate logistic regression analyses for items with a p-value of < 0.1. Additionally, the detection rate of unique endoscopic findings in the patient group was also examined.

Results: A total of 94/20,145 participants were diagnosed with EoE, with a 0.47% detection rate. Longitudinal grooves were the most characteristic endoscopic findings of EoE observed in 93% of patients. Univariate analyses showed that the prevalence of alcohol consumption, dysphagia or heartburn symptoms, and serological allergy were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group. Multivariate analyses indicated that alcohol consumption, dysphagia or heartburn symptoms, history of allergies, and the absence of Barrett’s esophagus were independent risk factors for EoE.

Conclusions: It is critical to evaluate the eosinophil count in the esophageal mucosa of patients with a history of allergic diseases and alcohol consumption, symptoms of choking or heartburn, and the absence of Barrett’s esophagus on endoscopic examination, to improve the EoE detection rate during a medical check-up.