Clinical characteristics of 326 cases of erosive esophagitis in healthy population undergoing health checkup in Eastern Zhejiang Province

Objective To explore the incidence of asymptomatic erosive esophagitis (AEE) and clinical characteristics of symptoms of erosive esophagitis in healthy population undergoing health check-up. Methods From January 2012 to December 2015, at Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Lihuili Eastern Hospital, a total of 3 052 healthy people receiving routine health checkup and underwent gastroendoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic characteristics, endoscopic findings, reflux-related symptoms, metabolic syndrome and biochemical parameters were analyzed in AEE and symptomatic erosive esophagitis (SEE) patients. T test and Chi square test were performed for univariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare differences between AEE and SEE patients. Results There were 326 cases of erosive esophagitis, and the incidence rate was 10.7% (326/3 052). Among them, the incidence rate of AEE was 4.9% (151/3 052), which accounted for 46.3% (151/326) of erosive esophagitis; and the incidence rate of SEE was 5.7% (175/3 052), and accounted for 53.7% (175/326) of erosive esophagitis. About 98.2%(320/326) of the patients were diagnosed with mild esophagitis (Los Angeles grade A or B). The results of univariate analysis indicated that, compared with AEE group, there were more smokers (31.8%, 48/151 vs. 45.7%, 80/175) and more drinkers (27.8%, 42/151 vs. 41.7%, 73/175), and higher body mass index (BMI) ((23.95±2.32) kg/m2 vs. (24.53±2.19) kg/m2) were in SEE group, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=6.592 and 6.859, t=-2.351; all P 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that smoking (odds ratio (OR)=1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05 to 2.65, P=0.030), alcohol drinking (OR=1.69, 95%CI 1.05 to 2.72, P=0.030) and high BMI (OR=1.11, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.23, P=0.044) were the independent risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with erosive esophagitis. Conclusions AEE is common in Chinese population, and the incidence is similar to SEE. Smoking, alcohol drinking and high BMI are the risk factors of reflux symptom in patients with erosive esophagitis. Key words: Endoscopy; Risk factors; Asymptomatic erosive esophagitis; Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms