Association of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Eliminating the Body Mass Index Effect

Different studies have reported the association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. This association is considered either body mass index (BMI) related or independent of BMI. In the current study, we aimed to illustrate the correlation between GERD symptoms and NAFLD and to determine the role of BMI in this regard.

This study was conducted on 332 out-patients referred to the clinics affiliated to Imam Khomeini and Imam Reza Hospitals in Kermanshah in 2015-2016 who were divided into two groups of patients with NAFLD and without NAFLD. The two groups were investigated and compared for symptoms of GERD. The confounding effect of BMI and sex were eliminated in this study by multiple logistic regression.

The prevalence of heartburn, belching, nausea and vomiting, and hypertension (HTN) was higher in patients with NAFLD (P<0.05). Moreover, these four variables were still associated with NAFLD after eliminating the BMI and sex confounding effect by multiple logistic regression model.

Some GERD symptoms are related to NAFLD regardless of BMI effect.