[The Correlation Between Reflux Esophagitis and Infection Based on Natural Population]

Reflux esophagitis (RE) may be negatively correlated with () infection, but the conclusion and relevant mechanism is still controversial. This study proposed to explore the correlation between RE and infection based on natural population. From July 2013 to December 2014, 3 940 residents aged 40-69 years were recruited in Linqu County of Shandong Province and Hua County of Henan Province by the whole sampling method. All the subjects underwent gastroscopy, and gastric mucosa biopsy specimens were collected for pathological diagnosis and Warthin-Starry (WS) staining to identify infection. Venous blood samples of some subjects were collected for immunoglobulin G (-IgG) detection. Also, demographic and sociological data were collected. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation between RE and infection. A total of 359 cases of RE were detected. Excluding RE and other upper gastrointestinal organic diseases, 3 382 cases were considered as controls. Chi-square test showed that WS staining positive rate in RE group was significantly lower than that in control group (=0.023), but there was no significant difference in the positive rate of -IgG between the two groups (=0.281). There were significant differences between RE group and control group in gender composition, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol consumption, education level and mucosal active inflammation. Multivariate regression analysis showed that RE was negatively correlated with gastric mucosa active inflammation [=0.754 (95% 0.600-0.949), =0.016], and positively correlated with male [=4.231 (95% 3.263-5.486), <0.001], age ≥60 years, BMI≥24 kg/m [=1.540 (95% 1.220-1.945), <0.001]. Compared to those aged 40-49 years and 50-59 years, the odds ratio () of RE in these aged ≥60 years were 1.566 (95% 1.144-2.143, =0.005) and 1.405 (95% 1.093-1.805, =0.008). RE is more closely related to present infection. Multivariate analysis showed that RE is negatively correlated with active inflammation of gastric mucosa caused by infection, and positively correlated with male, overweight and aged ≥60 years.