Abstract
BackgroundThe etiology of reflux esophagitis (RE) is multi-factorial. This study analyzed the relationship of depression, anxiety, lifestyle and eating habits with RE and its severity and further explored the impact of anxiety and depression on patients’ symptoms and quality of life.MethodsFrom September 2016 to February 2018, a total of 689 subjects at Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University participated in this survey. They were divided into the RE group (patients diagnosed with RE on gastroscopy, n = 361) and the control group (healthy individuals without heartburn, regurgitation and other gastrointestinal symptoms, n = 328). The survey included general demographic information, lifestyle habits, eating habits, comorbidities, current medications, the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) questionnaire (GerdQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression scale and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 anxiety scale.ResultsThe mean age and sex ratio of the two groups were similar. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following factors as related to the onset of RE (p < 0.05): low education level; drinking strong tea; preferences for sweets, noodles and acidic foods; sleeping on a low pillow; overeating; a short interval between dinner and sleep; anxiety; depression; constipation; history of hypertension; and use of oral calcium channel blockers. Ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between sleeping on a low pillow and RE severity (p = 0.025). Depression had a positive correlation with the severity of symptoms (rs = 0.375, p < 0.001) and patients’ quality of life (rs = 0.306, p < 0.001), whereas anxiety showed no such association.ConclusionsMany lifestyle factors and eating habits were correlated with the onset of RE. Notably, sleeping on a low pillow was positively correlated with RE severity, and depression was positively related to the severity of symptoms and patients’ quality of life.
Highlights
The etiology of reflux esophagitis (RE) is multi-factorial
The results of the present study identified low education level, drinking strong tea, overeating, a short interval between dinner and sleep, sleeping on a low pillow, anxiety, depression, constipation, a history of hypertension, use of oral calcium channel blockers, and preferences for sweets, noodles and/or acidic foods as positively related to the onset of RE
Our study found that preferences for sweets, noodles and acidic foods showed positive correlations with RE, while preferences for fried and fatty foods and fruits were not related to the onset of RE
Summary
The etiology of reflux esophagitis (RE) is multi-factorial. This study analyzed the relationship of depression, anxiety, lifestyle and eating habits with RE and its severity and further explored the impact of anxiety and depression on patients’ symptoms and quality of life. Wang et al BMC Gastroenterol (2021) 21:127 such as smoking, drinking, preferences for high-fat and fried foods, and overeating are closely associated with RE [3,4,5,6] It has been reported in the recent literature that mental disorders, especially anxiety and depression, are closely related to the onset and prognosis of RE [7], which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship of depression, anxiety, lifestyle factors and eating habits with RE and its severity and to further explore the effects of anxiety and depression on RE symptoms and the quality of life of these patients
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