Abdominal Circumference and BE

In a case-control study, larger abdominal circumference (adjusted for BMI) was associated modestly with greater risk for Barrett esophagus.

Experts have hypothesized that obesity increases risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which, in turn, increases risk for Barrett esophagus (BE). Two research groups recently suggested that larger waist size was a better indicator of GERD symptoms than was body-mass index (BMI; Journal Watch Gastroenterology Aug 10 2007). Now, one of those groups has conducted a nested case-control study to examine the associations between abdominal circumference, BMI, and incident BE.

The study involved 320 patients with incident BE diagnoses and two matched control groups: One group (317 patients, labeled “population controls”) was selected based solely on the lack of BE diagnoses, and the other (316 patients, labeled “GERD controls”) was select…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors