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Smoking cessation improved gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with normal BMI
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Participants with normal BMI who used weekly antireflux medications for severe gastroesophageal reflux symptoms experienced significant improvement after smoking cessation in a recent prospective study.
As part of the population-based cohort HUNT health study conducted in Norway (1995-1997 and 2006-2008), researchers analyzed survey responses from 29,610 participants aged 20 years and older who reported gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS) in both studies. Responses included whether respondents experienced heartburn or acid regurgitation as part of their GERS.
Multivariable logistic regression assessed associations between GERS and smoking cessation. Researchers stratified their results based on antireflux medication use and adjusted data for age, sex, BMI, alcohol and other variables.
No association was found between daily smokers with severe GERS who used no or less than weekly antireflux medication and then stopped smoking and GERS status (adjusted OR=0.95; 95% CI, 0.39-2.3). Participants who smoked daily and used weekly antireflux medicine reported their GERS status improved from severe to no or minor complaints after smoking cessation (aOR=1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.97) compared with daily smoking.
In subanalysis, researchers said this association was present in participants who reported normal BMI of 18.5 kg/m2 to 24.9 kg/m2 (OR=5.67; 95% CI, 1.36-23.64), but not among overweight participants. There was no association between tobacco cessation and GERS improvement for participants reporting minor GERS.
“The results of our study suggest that tobacco smoking cessation may improve severe GERS among normal weight individuals in the general population,” who used regular antireflux medication, the researchers wrote. “As this is an observational study, a causal relationship cannot be claimed, and we do not know if smoking cessation occurred before improvement of GERS or the other way around.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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