Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance Measurement of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Patients with Different Stages of Morbid Obesity

Background Obesity is now one of the world’s major chronic diseases. The etiology of the severe comorbid conditions associated with morbid obesity is not fully understood, and in particular the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and obesity. Methods Sixty-seven patients were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients and control individuals were divided into four subgroups according to their body mass index (BMI). Esophageal motility was assessed using a conventional water-perfused esophageal manometry catheter, and 24-h pH-metry was carried out using multichannel intraluminal impedance equipment. Results In the group with the highest BMI (>50), contraction amplitudes in the middle and distal esophagus were significantly higher in comparison both with the control group and groups with a lower BMI ( P