RESUMO
Objective: To analyze the relationship between the severity of esophageal acid reflux and esophageal motility, esophageal mucosal injury and morphological anatomy of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: The clinicaldata of GERD patients who underwent 24 h pH-impedance monitoring, gastroscopy and high-resolution manometry (HRM) from January 2016 to January 2019 in the Gastroesophageal Surgery Department of PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into non-pathological acid reflux group, mild pathological acid reflux group and moderate to severe pathological acid reflux group according to the DeMeester score. The gender and age of each group were matched, with 60 cases in each group. Statistical analysiswas performed to analyze thedifferences in upper esophageal sphincter pressure, lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LES), LES length, length of ventral LES, percentage of ineffective swallowing, esophagitis, Hill grade of GEJ, and hiatus hernia (HH) in each group. The comparison and correlation analysis are also carried out between the groups. Results: The male-female ratio was 33/27, and the age was (57±13) years in each group. Non-parametric analysis showed that the LES pressure and the length of the ventral LES decreased with the severity of acid reflux, and there was a statistical difference (P= 0.033, P=0.015). The detection rate of HH by HRM increased significantly (χ(2)=0.001) as well. Esophagitis score increased with the severity of acid reflux and there was statistical difference (P<0.001).The detection rate of esophagitis increased significantly (χ(2)<0.001) as well. Hill grading score of GEJ increased with the severity of acid reflux, and there was statistical difference (P<0.001).The detection rate of HH by endoscopy increased significantly (χ(2)<0.001) as well. The correlation between DeMeester score and LES pressure, length of ventral LES, percentage of ineffective swallowing, esophagitis score, and Hill grade score were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: The esophageal low motility (such as low LES pressure) and anatomical abnormalities (abdominal esophageal shortening, GEJ flabbiness, and even HH formation) of the GEJ regionare significantly associated with the severity of acid reflux. These factors may be important causes of increased acid reflux. In addition, the aggravation of acid reflux can also increase the incidence and severity of esophagitis.