Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Gastritis in Patients Referred for Endoscopy-A Single-Center Romanian Study.

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects up to 10% of adults globally, and its complications can mask the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding or malignancy.

METHODS

Our study enrolled 633 endoscopic patients stratified according to T2DM presence (4:1 ratio in favor of the control group).

RESULTS

T2DM patients referred for endoscopy experienced lower prevalence of epigastric pain and heartburn (OR = 0.637/OR = 0.346, < 0.05). Often being anemic (OR = 2.23, < 0.001), they had significantly lower hemoglobin ( = 0.001) and serum iron ( = 0.02), but serum cholesterol was higher in non-diabetics. Ulcers, erosions and mucosal hemorrhages were comparable between groups ( < 0.05), although low-dose aspirin use was more prevalent in diabetics ( = 0.000, OR = 2.34). T2DM was associated with the increased frequency of antro-corporal active gastritis (OR = 1.451/OR 1.501), with smokers presenting a higher frequency of active infection (OR = 3.37). T2DM predicted anemia (adjusted OR = 1.70) and the absence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (adjusted OR = 0.37), but not active gastritis or premalignant lesions.

CONCLUSION

In an endoscopic population, patients with T2DM had lower hemoglobin and serum iron levels. There was an inverse correlation between T2DM and heartburn. gastritis and premalignant lesions occurred more frequently in diabetic patients (predominantly pangastritis) before adjusting for age or associated comorbidities, with smoking increasing the risk for active infection.