Hiatus Hernia and Body Mass Index (BMI): A Possible Correlation?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hiatus hernia is the protrusion of the stomach or part of it through the oesophagus or a defect in the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity. Hiatus hernia is associated mainly with obesity and is sometimes encountered in patients with dyspepsia. Hiatus hernia can make worse the symptoms of dyspepsia especially in patients with reflux disease where it can cause non- cardiac chest pain or interferes with the acid pocket where there is a postprandial reflux of acid into the esophagus from the fundic area of the stomach. AIM: The aim of this study was to enroll patients coming for upper GIT endoscopy because of dyspepsia or peptic ulcer disease and were found to have hiatus hernia accidentally or as part of the reasons for referral to the endoscopy clinic. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this survey was to determine solely the relationship between hiatus hernia and body mass index of patients who were sent to the endoscopy clinic for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the suspected diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHOD: This was a prospective study between June 2010 and June 2016, the survey was conducted in two different centres in the north central part of Nigeria. Two consultant Gastroenterologists who also performed endoscopy on regular basis participated in the study. Consecutive patients who presented to the endoscopy clinic for the diagnostic upper GIT endoscopy were enrolled in the study. Patients who were found to have hiatus hernia by Hills classification had their weight and height recorded and their body mass index calculated. RESULT: Hiatus Hernia was found to be commoner in women but it was not found to be associated with obesity. Patient with the BMI indicating overweight had the highest rate of herniation while the obese individuals had the lowest. CONCLUSION: Obesity was not found to be associated with hiatus hernia and it may be possible that the rate of hiatus hernia may have a negative correlation with increasing BMI above 30Kg/M2.