Obesity, peptic ulcer disease and metabolic status in the Wuwei Cohort of northwest China: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Peptic ulcer disease is a common digestive system disease. However, whether peptic ulcer disease and obesity are related is unclear. We assessed the associations of obesity and metabolic status with peptic ulcer disease.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 3561 individuals from the Wuwei cohort. We evaluated the associations of general and abdominal adiposity, as defined by different anthropometric indices, with peptic ulcer disease. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were determined through binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

The odds ratio for peptic ulcer disease was 2.37 (1.46-3.84) for women with obesity, compared with the normal group. The association remained significant in Models 2 and 3, with odds ratios of 2.23 (1.35-3.69) and 2.03 (1.19-3.49), respectively. In Model 1, women with obesity had an odds ratio for duodenal ulcer of 2.76 (1.41-5.42) compared with the control group; this result remained significant in Models 2 and 3, with odds ratios of 2.52 (1.24-5.13) and 2.44 (1.13-5.28), respectively. In Model 1, women with metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity had odds ratios for peptic ulcer disease of 2.26 (1.19-4.28) and 2.15 (1.12-4.15), respectively, compared with the control group. After adjustments for major covariates and H. pylori status, these respective odds ratios became 2.27 (1.20-4.30) and 2.17 (1.12-4.20) in Model 2 and 2.2 (1.15-4.20) and 2.16 (1.11-4.19) in Model 3.

CONCLUSIONS

General adiposity defined by body mass index is associated with peptic ulcer disease in women.