Published online Feb 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i6.839
Revised: June 18, 2004
Accepted: July 27, 2004
Published online: February 14, 2005
AIM: To assess the relationship between severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) as an indicator of the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.
METHODS: Data of 57 patients with proven obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to severity of the sleep apnea: “mild-moderate” (A)-AHI ≥5-30, n = 27, “severe”(B)-AHI >30, n = 30. All patients underwent apnea monitoring during the night, upper panendoscopy and were asked about typical reflux symptoms.
RESULTS: All examined patients in both groups showed a significant overweight and there was a positive correlation between body mass index and the degree of sleep apnea (P = 0.0002). The occurence of erosive reflux disease was significantly higher in “severe” group (P = 0.0001). Using a logistic regression analysis a positive correlation was found between the endoscopic severity of reflux disease and the AHI (P = 0.016). Forty-nine point five percent of the patients experienced the typical symptoms of reflux disease at least three times a week and there was no significant difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSION: A positive correlation can be found between the severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease and obstructive sleep apnea.