Association Between Erosive Esophagitis and the Anthropometric Index in the General Korean Population

BACKGROUND: An association between obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease has been reported. However, previous studies have focused on obesity or central obesity. AIMS: To investigate the association of the anthropometric index and endoscopic erosive esophagitis in health checkups of Koreans. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: A total of 1.207 consecutive subjects (aged 40-80 years) during health checkups underwent upper endoscopy and bioelectrical impedance analysis. We collected anthropometric data by bioelectrical impedance analysis, which consisted of body mass index, percent body fat, muscle mass, and fat mass. RESULTS: Of 1.207 subjects who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (mean age, 50.55±9 years), 239 (19.8%) had endoscopic erosive esophagitis. In a univariate analysis, the endoscopic erosive esophagitis group was more likely to be a male and had a higher body mass index, muscle mass and fat mass. In logistic regression analysis, only muscle mass remained an independent risk factor for EE after adjustment for both age and gender. Higher muscle mass was associated with increased EE risk (rate ratio: 1.354, 95% confidence interval: 1.206-1.405, p= 0.027). CONCLUSION: High muscle mass, but body mass index, is an independent risk factor for erosive esophagitis in a population over 40 years of age.