Gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with diabetes: Preliminary study

Abstract

Background and Aim: Some studies report that complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occur more frequently in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) than in non-diabetic patients. This study used transnasal endoscopy to elucidate the current status of concurrent GERD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to examine the associations between intraesophageal pressure and GERD, as well as other neuropathic conditions. Methods: The study included 57 outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mean age was 67 years and the duration of DM was 13 years. The mean hemoglobin A1c was 6.8%. Transnasal endoscopic evaluation items were (i) the presence or absence of esophagitis and its severity; (ii) intraesophageal pressure; and (iii) Helicobacter pylori status, which was evaluated by endoscopic findings, such as the presence or absence of gastritis and peptic ulcer, and by urea breath test. Results: Of 57 patients, 24 (42.1%) were given a diagnosis of GERD based on endoscopy. Patients with concurrent GERD were younger, had shorter duration of DM, and were taller and heavier. Interestingly, no difference in body mass index was observed. There was no significant association between the presence of concurrent GERD and diabetic complications, including peripheral neuropathy, and infection or non-infection with H. pylori. Although there was no significant association between the presence of concurrent GERD and intraesophageal pressure values, we found aging, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the presence of autonomic nerve symptoms to correlate with reduced intraesophageal pressure. Conclusion:The results of this study could be used to answer the question of whether or not endoscopic GERD is a diabetic complication; however, further study is required.

Endoscopic Assessment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Severity in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

“…Also, Zhang et al (11) GERD is more prevalent in females than males. In contrast, Sakitani et al (12) and Fujiwara et al (13) showed that both sexes reported more cases of endoscopic GERD in males than females.…”

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and causes of abdominal symptoms in diabetes patients

“…There was also a significant relationship between GERD and gender, showing that the complicated form of GERD was more frequent in men. However, there are no significant associations between the presence of reflux disease and other diabetic complications [21].…”

“…Some studies indicate that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is more common in diabetic patients than in non-diabetics [19][20][21].…”

“…Based on endoscopic studies, up to 42% of type 2 diabetes patients develop gastroesophageal reflux disease [21]. In those studies, patients with concurrent diabetes and gastroesophageal reflux disease tended to be younger, with a shorter duration of diabetes, were taller, and had greater body mass.…”