Purpose: The objective was to identify risk factors for new development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 5 years later in a prospective longitudinal cohort study.
Methods: A total of 178 subjects (male 72, female 106, mean age 68 years) without GERD in 2013 were examined for GERD in 2018. A Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD score ≥ 8 was used for diagnosis of GERD. Body mass index, spinal alignment, muscle strength, physical ability, number of oral drugs per day, sarcopenia, and frailty determined in 2013 and 2018 were compared between the GERD(+) and GERD(-) groups in 2018. Aggravation of lumbar kyphosis and spinal inclination from 2013 to 2018 was defined as a change of ≥ 5° or ≥ 10°, and weakening of back muscle strength as a change of ≥ 10 kg. QOL (SF-36) was also examined.
Results: Of the 178 subjects, 38 (21%) were diagnosed as GERD(+) in 2018. Sarcopenia in 2018 was significantly related to a GERD(+) status (p < 0.05). The GERD(+) group had significantly higher rates of changes of lumbar kyphosis ≥ 5° (p < 0.005) and ≥ 10° (p < 0.0001), of spinal inclination ≥ 5° (p < 0.0001), and of decreased back muscle strength ≥ 10 kg (p < 0.05). SF-36 were also significantly worse in the GERD(+) group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: This prospective longitudinal study firstly demonstrated that lumbar kyphotic change, aggravation of spinal inclination, decreased back muscle strength, and sarcopenia are significant risk factors for new development of GERD. Management and prevention of these factors may contribute to reduction of GERD symptoms and increased QOL in middle-aged and elderly people. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Keywords: Aggravation of spinal inclination; Decreased back muscle strength; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Lumbar kyphotic change; Sarcopenia.