Sleep apnea and BE

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jul 10. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14779. [Epub ahead of print]

Independent association of obstructive sleep apnea with Barrett’s esophagus.

Hadi YB1, Khan AA1, Naqvi SFZ1, Kupec JT1.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

Current  guidelines suggest screening at-risk groups of patients for Barrett’s  esophagus (BE), a precursor to esophageal cancer. Although BE and obstructive sleep apnea  (OSA) have common risk factors, including elevated body mass index and  gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the relationship between these  two conditions has not been well established.

METHODS:

Retrospectively,  all patients who had undergone a polysomnography and  esophagogastroduodenoscopy at West Virginia University Hospital from  2013 to 2018 were identified and divided into groups on the basis of the  presence or absence of OSA. Clinical course and procedure reports were  reviewed to identify relevant variables.

RESULTS:

One  thousand ninety-one patients met inclusion criteria; 60.9% were female,  and mean age of participants was 53.5 years. Univariate analysis  revealed that male gender, age, diagnosis of OSA, severity of OSA, and a  clinical diagnosis of GERD were associated with BE (P  values < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression incorporating age, sex,  clinical diagnosis of GERD, smoking history, body mass index,  Helicobacter pylori status, and presence of hiatal hernia was utilized.  Patients with OSA had an increased risk of BE than had those without OSA  (P < 0.001, odds ratio 3.26 [1.72-6.85]). The risk increased with  increasing severity of OSA, categorized in apnea-hypopnea index increments of 10.

CONCLUSION:

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with BE, a relationship that is independent  of other known risk factors. Additionally, this risk increases with  increasing severity of OSA. Future efforts should determine if patients  with severe OSA need to be screened for BE due to its potential for  causing esophageal cancer.