February 26, 2015
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Weight gain, other factors increase risk for new-onset GERS

New-onset gastroesophageal reflux symptoms are associated with weight gain, especially after tobacco smoking cessation, and a variety of other factors, according recent study data.

“Increasing body weight is the most important risk factor of new-onset reflux symptoms, and [physicians should] be aware of the increase in weight following tobacco smoking cessation, which also can induce new reflux symptoms,” Eivind Ness-Jensen, MD, PhD, from Levanger Hospital in Norway, the HUNT Research Center at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, told Healio Gastroenterology.

Eivind Ness-Jensen

Using data from a population-based prospective cohort study (HUNT study) conducted from 1995-1997 and 2006-2009 in a Norwegian county, Ness-Jensen and colleagues evaluated risk factors for new-onset heartburn or acid regurgitation in 29,610 individuals (mean follow-up, 11 years) based on questionnaires, clinical measurements and blood samples.

They assessed risk factors in 510 participants who reported no gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS) at baseline but severe GERS at follow-up (new-onset GERS) compared with 14,406 participants who reported no GERS at both baseline and follow-up.

Increasing age was positively associated with new-onset GERS (OR = 1.01 per year; 95% CI, 1-1.02), whereas male sex (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66-0.98) and higher education (> 12 years; OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.56-0.86) were negatively associated. Increases in BMI had a dose-dependent association with new-onset GERS (OR = 1.3/BMI unit increase; 95% CI, 1.25-1.35) regardless of baseline BMI. Previous and current tobacco smoking was associated with new-onset GERS (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07-1.76 and OR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1-1.67, respectively), whereas quitting smoking was associated with new-onset GERS but only in those with BMI gain after quitting (> 3.5 units increase in BMI; OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.31-3.16).

“Increasing age, female sex, increase in BMI, ever tobacco smoking and low level of education were associated with new-onset GERS,” the researchers concluded. “Because of an increase in BMI after smoking cessation, new-onset GERS were associated with smoking cessation as well. Weight gain was attributed to a considerable part of new cases of GERS, independent of weight at baseline. Our findings confirm that avoiding weight gain is an important preventive measure of GERS.” – by Adam Leitenberger

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.