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Gastroesophageal Reflux in Patients with Morbid Obesity: A Role of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome?

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Abstract

Background

Obesity is a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our aim was to evaluate in morbidly obese patients the prevalence of OSA and GERD and their possible relationship.

Methods

Morbidly obese patients [body mass index (BMI) >40 or >35 kg/m2 in association with comorbidities] selected for bariatric surgery were prospectively included. Every patient underwent a 24-h pH monitoring, esophageal manometry, and nocturnal polysomnographic recording.

Results

Sixty-eight patients [59 women and 9 men, age 39.1 ± 11.1 years; BMI 46.5 ± 6.4 kg/m2 (mean ± SD)] were included. Fifty-six percent of patients had an abnormal Demester score, 44% had abnormal time spent at pH <4, and 80.9% had OSA [apnea hypopnea index (AHI) >10] and 39.7% had both conditions. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was lower in patients with GERD (11.6 ± 3.4 vs 13.4 ± 3.6 mm Hg, respectively; P = 0.039). There was a relationship between AHI and BMI (r = 0.337; P = 0.005). Patients with OSA were older (40.5 ± 10.9 vs 33.5 ± 10.4 years; P = 0.039). GERD tended to be more frequent in patients with OSA (49.1% vs 23.1%, respectively; P = 0.089). There was no significant relationship between pH-metric data and AHI in either the 24-h total recording time or the nocturnal recording time. In multivariate analysis, GERD was significantly associated with a low LES pressure (P = 0.031) and with OSA (P = 0.045) but not with gender, age, and BMI.

Conclusion

In this population of morbidly obese patients, OSA and GERD were frequent, associated in about 40% of patients. GERD was significantly associated with LES hypotonia and OSA independently of BMI.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

body mass index

OSA:

obstructive sleep apnea

GERD:

gastroesophageal reflux disease

AHI:

apnea hypopnea index

LES:

lower esophageal sphincter

WHR:

waist-to-hip ratio

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Louis Mourier, Service d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Université Paris 7, 178 rue des Renouillers, 92700, Colombes Cedex, France

    J. M. Sabaté, P. Jouët, M. Merrouche, J. Pouzoulet, F. Harnois & B. Coffin

  2. Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Louis Mourier, Service des Explorations Fonctionnelles, Université Paris 7, 178 rue des Renouillers, 92700, Colombes Cedex, France

    D. Maillard

  3. Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Louis Mourier, Service de Chirurgie viscérale, Université Paris 7, 178 rue des Renouillers, 92700, Colombes Cedex, France

    S. Msika

Authors
  1. J. M. Sabaté
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  2. P. Jouët
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  3. M. Merrouche
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  4. J. Pouzoulet
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  5. D. Maillard
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  7. S. Msika
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  8. B. Coffin
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Correspondence to B. Coffin.

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Sabaté, J.M., Jouët, P., Merrouche, M. et al. Gastroesophageal Reflux in Patients with Morbid Obesity: A Role of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome?. OBES SURG 18, 1479–1484 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-008-9508-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-008-9508-9

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