An Analysis of Weight Gains and Body Mass Index in Patients with Barrett's Esophagus.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is a risk factor for developing Barrett's esophagus (BE), a precursor to esophageal cancer. Long BE lengths are associated with greater risk for malignancy. How weight gains from young adulthood (defined as ages 19 to 29 years) affect BE length is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To examine current body mass index (BMI), weight gains from young adulthood, and evening snacking near bedtime during young adulthood in BE patients.


DESIGN
Cross-sectional analysis of 71 patients from 2001 to 2008 from a 600-bed tertiary care center in the United States who were newly diagnosed with BE by endoscopy and mucosal biopsies.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Barrett's esophagus length and age at presentation.


STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED
Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) measured the linear association between continuous variables. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare medians by segment length and the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test for categorical data. Quantile regression was used for multivariable adjustment.


RESULTS
Younger patients had higher BMIs at diagnosis (r=-0.32, P=0.007). Patients who gained more than 23 kg from young adulthood were diagnosed at an adjusted median age of 18.0 years younger 95% CI (6.1-29.9, P=0.004) than patients with no weight gains. BMI was not correlated with BE length (r=-0.12, P=0.33). Weight gains from young adulthood were not associated with BE length after multivariable adjustment (P=0.19). Patients whose late evening snack or bedtime was less than 4 hours from dinner had longer median BE lengths than those who went to bed later (5 vs 2 cm, P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Longer BE lengths were associated with shorter dinner-bedtime intervals during young adulthood but not with current BMI or weight gains from young adulthood.
['Nathanson|Brian H|BH|', 'Navab|Farhad|F|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001471:Barrett Esophagus D015992:Body Mass Index D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005247:Feeding Behavior D005260:Female D006801:Humans D016014:Linear Models D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009765:Obesity D012307:Risk Factors D062410:Snacks D015430:Weight Gain D055815:Young Adult
Weight gains Obesity Barrett’s esophagus Diet Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)