Vascular measures of atherosclerosis in detrusor overactivity and controls.

AIM: The mechanisms leading to the development of detrusor overactivity (DO) are still relatively poorly understood, however, animal studies suggest that atherosclerosis and reduced blood flow to the bladder may be one etiological pathway. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate signs of atherosclerosis in a large cohort of women with detrusor overactivity, using two precise measures of atherosclerotic vascular impairment, Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), and Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV). METHODS: A prospective cohort study measuring ABI and baPWV of women with DO and controls was conducted. The ABI and baPWV were measured using an automated oscillometric blood pressure machine, to evaluate the degree of atherosclerosis in patients with DO and controls. Associations between ABI and baPWV and important confounding variables were assessed by a linear regression model. RESULTS: Ninety-eight women with DO, and 98 controls without any symptoms of DO were studied. Multivariate analysis showed an increase in left baPWV of approximately 96 cm/s units of velocity (95%CI 20.65-172.05, P = 0.01) is predicted significantly by the presence or absence of detrusor overactivity (as well by independent factors of age, diastolic blood pressure and body mass index). A similar effect was seen for right baPWV. CONCLUSIONS: On linear regression modeling, the presence of DO was a strong predictor for an increased PWV when controlling for age, BMI and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), thus supporting the hypothesis that atherosclerosis may contribute to the etiology of DO.

Risk of Barrett's oesophagus, oesophageal adenocarcinoma and reflux oesophagitis and the use of nitrates and asthma medications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between use of asthma medication and nitrates and risk of reflux oesophagitis, Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected on use of asthma medication and nitrates at least 1 year before interview from patients with reflux oesophagitis, Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Associations between use of asthma medications and nitrates and the risk of reflux oesophagitis, Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma were estimated using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Nine hundred and forty-one subjects were recruited: 230 reflux oesophagitis, 224 Barrett's oesophagus, 227 oesophageal adenocarcinoma patients and 260 population controls. Barrett's oesophagus patients were more likely than controls to have had a diagnosis of asthma (odds ratio 2.15, 95% confidence interval 1.15-4.03) and to have used asthma medications (odds ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.09-4.16). No significant associations were observed between use of asthma medication or nitrates and reflux oesophagitis or oesophageal adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms appear to confound the association between asthma medication use and Barrett's oesophagus. However, it is possible that asthma medications may increase the risk of Barrett's oesophagus by other mechanisms.