Obesity-An Impactful Risk Factor for Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease

Objective: To determine over-weight and obesity as risk factors for Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: One hundred patients of both genders, presenting with symptoms of GERD were selected as cases and one hundred controls from attendants of various patients not suffering from GERD by random sampling during October 2016 to April 2017. Both the cases and controls were weighed (kilograms) and their heights (centimetres) were measured. Their BMIs (body mass index) were calculated. The cases and controls were then categorised into normal weight, over weight and obese subjects on basis of BMI by WHO criteria. Subjects, with ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, peptic ulcer disease those taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and steroids were excluded. Results: In this present study, the frequency (the percentage) of male and female was 48.5%, 51.5% respectively. It was found that there were about 52.0% and 48.0% males and females respectively in controls while 45.0% and 55.0% in case. Mean and SD of weight of cases and controls were as 73.17 ± 9.853 kg and 68.78 ± 6.738 kg respectively. The p-value=0.000 showing that there was a significant association between BMI and outcomes i.e. occurrence of GERD (cases and controls). Conclusion: This study showed that over-weight and obesity were associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk for GERD symptoms i.e. increased by 3 times in all patients, 2 times in males and 7 times in females.