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Adiponectin may modify the risk of Barrett’s esophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

L. Almers, J. Graham, P. Havel, D. Corley

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2015

24 citations

Abstract

Background & Aims Abdominal obesity and increasing body mass index are risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma and its main precursor, Barrett’s esophagus; however, there are no known biological mechanisms for these associations or regarding why only some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease develop Barrett’s esophagus. We evaluated the association between Barrett’s esophagus and multimers of an adipose-associated hormone, adiponectin. Methods We conducted a case-control study evaluating the associations between adiponectin (total, high molecular weight, and low/medium molecular weight) and Barrett’s esophagus within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California population. Patients with a new diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus (cases) were matched to patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) without Barrett’s esophagus and to population controls. Results Complete serologic and epidemiologic data were available for 284 cases, 294 GERD controls, and 285 population controls. Increasing adiponectin levels were a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (total adiponectin fourth vs. first quartile odds ratio [OR]=1.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–3.27; high molecular weight adiponectin OR=1.65; 95% CI 1.00–2.73; low/medium molecular weight adiponectin OR=2.18; 95% CI 1.33–3.56, but not compared with population controls. The associations were significantly stronger among patients reporting frequent GERD…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.

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