MedWire News: People with the metabolic syndrome are more likely to suffer from reflux oesophagitis than those without the condition, research shows.

The metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure and high blood fat levels, that significantly increases a person's risk of heart disease.

Writing in the journal Gut, Dr Donghee Kim, from Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center in South Korea, and team explain: "Obesity has been associated with reflux oesophagitis. However, the relationship between metabolic syndrome ... and reflux oesophagitis is unclear."

To investigate, the researchers studied the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its various components in 3539 men and women with reflux oesophagitis and the same number of patients without the disease who were of similar age.

Around 750 of the participants in both groups also underwent computed tomography scans to assess their levels of abdominal fat, including fat surrounding the internal organs, called visceral fat.

The researchers found that, in total, 27% of the participants with reflux oesophagitis had the metabolic syndrome, compared with just over 18% of those without oesophagitis.

The team therefore calculated that the metabolic syndrome is associated with a 47% increased risk of reflux oesophagitis.

Further analysis revealed that, among the various components of the metabolic syndrome, waist circumference, blood fat levels and visceral obesity were significantly, and independently, associated with an increased risk of reflux oesophagitis.

Dr Kim and team conclude: "Metabolic syndrome was associated with reflux oesophagitis.

"Abdominal obesity, especially visceral obesity, was an important risk factor for reflux oesophagitis."