Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease Increases the Risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms

Abstract

Objective

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS).

Methods

The present study was a cross-sectional observational study. The study population was 3002 subjects from a single hospital who underwent a health checkup from September 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. The diagnosis of MAFLD was based on the diagnosis of fatty liver in the subject by ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) and the presence of one of the following conditions: overweight or obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 23), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic abnormalities. The subjects were divided into the GERS group (n = 305) and the non-GERS group (n = 2697) based on the presence or absence of GERS, based on the GerdQ score.

Results

The prevalence of MAFLD was significantly higher in the GERS group than in the non-GERS group (p = 0.001). In the univariate analysis of risk factors for GERS, MAFLD was identified as a risk factor for GERS (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.176–1.913; p = 0.001). With adjustment of confounding factors such as BMI, waist circumference, lipid levels, and blood pressure, the correlation between MAFLD and GERS was attenuated but still significant (OR 1.408; 95% CI 1.085–1.826; p = 0.010).

Conclusion

MAFLD might be an independent risk factor for GERS.

Keywords:

• gastroesophageal reflux symptoms
• GERD
• metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease
• body mass index
• obesity
• questionnaire

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as was revised in 2013). The study was approved by Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University (NO.PJ-KS-KY-2019-104). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Acknowledgments

We are particularly grateful to all the people who have given us help on our article.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

There is no funding to report.