Healio
Healio
December 05, 2011
1 min read
Save

World Trade Center exposure linked to gastroesophageal reflux symptoms

Exposure to the Sept. 11, 2011 World Trade Center aftermath may have led to the development of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and comorbid asthma and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a retrospective analysis.

Researchers examined the records of 37,118 World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees with no previous symptoms (rescue/recovery workers, residents, nearby workers and passersby in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2011). The study included enrollees from two registry surveys:

  •       2 to 3 years (“post-9/11 gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS)”; individuals reporting new onset GERS since 9/11);
  •       5 to 6 years (“persistent GERS”; individuals reporting GERS at both survey intervals).

Those included in the post-9/11 group had a 20% cumulative incidence of GERS vs. 13% among those included in the persistent GERS group.

The researchers also concluded that GERS was more prevalent among those with comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (24%), asthma (13%) or both (36%) vs. those with neither cormorbidity (8%).

Sources/Disclosures

Collapse
Source: Li J. Am J Gastroenterol. doi:10.1038/ajg.2011.300.