Heartburn and constipation in overweight patients

Abstract

Objective. To assess the correlation between the presence of excess body weight and the development of constipation and heartburn in patients with a gastroenterological profile. Materials and methods. A questionnaire was completed for 51 patients of the gastroenterological department using the author's questionnaire, which takes into account the following indicators: age, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), stool frequency, once a week, type of stool according to the Bristol scale (1–7), frequency of heartburn (once a week), severity of heartburn (on a scale from 0 to 10 points). Statistical processing was performed using the SPSS 8.0 program, the clinical base was the Elizabethan Hospital (Saint Petersburg). Results. The following correlation relationships were identified: 1) BMI – age. BMI increases with age: r = 0.329 (p = 0.014); 2) stool frequency – age. With age, a decrease in stool frequency occurs: r = –0.651 (p < 0.001); 3) the type of chair on the Bristol scale is age. With age, the type of stool shifts toward constipation: r = –0.515 (p < 0.001); 4) gender – frequency of heartburn. The female sex is more likely to suffer from heartburn: r = –0.269 (p = 0.047); 5) the type of chair on the Bristol scale – BMI. With an increase in BMI, the stool shifts toward constipation: r = –0.307 (p = 0.023); 6) frequency of heartburn – body weight. With an increase in body weight, the frequency and severity of heartburn increase: 0.439 (p = 0.001); 7) the frequency of heartburn BMI. With an increase in the frequency and severity of heartburn, BMI increases: 0.403 (p = 0.002). Conclusions. The correlation relationships revealed that overweight people require an active survey regarding the presence of complaints of constipation and heartburn, as well as monitoring the status of patients in dynamics for the early detection of concomitant gastroenterological pathology and prevention of esophageal cancer in patients with heartburn and colorectal cancer in patients with constipation.