Relationship of iron-deficiency anemia with esophagitis and hiatal hernia: hospital findings from a prospective, population-based study.

OBJECTIVE

Iron-deficiency anemia is sometimes attributed to esophagitis and hiatal hernia; however, because these GI conditions are so common, such an association could be coincidental. We examined prospectively whether esophagitis and hiatal hernia increased the risk of iron-deficiency anemia in a national, population-based study.

METHODS

The study population comprised 5069 adult participants in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, who were free of GI hemorrhage and anemia at baseline examination in 1971-1975 and who were hospitalized at some point during nearly 20 yr of follow-up. Rates of hospitalization with iron-deficiency or unspecified anemia were compared between patients with a hospital diagnosis of esophagitis or hiatal hernia and those who had not yet had a diagnosis of these disorders. Adjusted rate ratios were calculated using time-dependent, multivariable, proportional hazards analysis.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 59 patients were hospitalized with esophagitis alone, 140 with hiatal hernia alone, and 70 with both diagnoses. A total of 102 participants were hospitalized with iron-deficiency anemia and 256 with unspecified anemia. Compared to those without a diagnosis of esophagitis or hiatal hernia, patients with a diagnosis of hiatal hernia had higher rates of subsequent hospitalization with iron-deficiency anemia. The hazard rate ratio (HRR) for hiatal hernia was 2.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-5.5). A trend was found for esophagitis with a HRR of 2.2 (95% confidence interval, 0.79-6.0). Results were similar with unspecified anemia as the outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Hiatal hernia should be considered as a possible cause of iron-deficiency anemia. The relationship of esophagitis with iron-deficiency anemia requires further study.