Chen Chien-Cheng, Huang Hsin-Yi, Wu Ting-Yi, Su Wei-Yu, Lin Tang-Huang, Tu Hung-Pin, Wu Chih-Da, Kuo Chao-Hung, Chen Szu-Chia
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, 482, Shan-Ming Rd., Hsiao-Kang Dist., 812, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 1;15(1):21339. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-07073-8.
In this study, we investigated the association between wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in different geographic regions of Taiwan in a large cohort. Participants (n = 120,424) residing in the four main geographical areas of Taiwan (North, Central, South and Eastern Taiwan) were enrolled from the Taiwan Biobank. Questionnaires were used to ascertain the presence of GERD based on self-reported physician diagnosis, and WBGT was assessed separately during working (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and noon (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM) periods. In Northern Taiwan, there is no significant association between WBGT and GERD during either the noon or working period. In Central Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period (odds ratio [OR], 1.055 [95% CI 1.008-1.105]; 1.062 [95% CI 1.013-1.114]; 1.059 [95% CI 1.009-1.111]) and working period (OR, 1.089 [95% CI 1.034-1.146]; 1.092 [95% CI 1.037-1.150]; 1.084 [95% CI 1.031-1.139]) were significantly associated with GERD. Similarly, in Southern Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period (OR, 1.292 [95% CI 1.236-1.351]; 1.323 [95% CI 1.261-1.389]; 1.386 [95% CI 1.316-1.460]) and working period (OR, 1.238 [95% CI 1.190-1.288]; 1.247 [95% CI 1.196-1.301]; 1.259 [95% CI 1.204-1.318]) were significantly associated with GERD. However, in Eastern Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period were significantly associated with GERD (OR, 1.067 [95% CI 1.015-1.122]; 1.089 [95% CI 1.041-1.138]; 1.107 [95% CI 1.058-1.158]), whereas the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ decrease during the working period were significantly associated with GERD. Increases in average WBGT values were significantly associated with GERD during both the noon and working periods in Central and Southern Taiwan, and the impact of WBGT was much stronger in Southern Taiwan. While a similar result was found in Eastern Taiwan during the noon period, a reverse correlation was found during the working period. Our findings suggest that heat stress may be associated with GERD, although the impact may differ according to regional characteristics. The causal relationship could not be confirmed due to the cross-sectional design of the study. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to establish the relationship.
在本研究中,我们在一个大型队列中调查了台湾不同地理区域的湿球黑球温度(WBGT)与胃食管反流病(GERD)之间的关联。研究对象(n = 120,424)来自台湾生物银行,居住在台湾四个主要地理区域(台湾北部、中部、南部和东部)。通过问卷调查,根据自我报告的医生诊断来确定GERD的存在,并分别在工作时段(上午8:00至下午5:00)和中午时段(上午11:00至下午2:00)评估WBGT。在台湾北部,中午时段和工作时段的WBGT与GERD之间均无显著关联。在台湾中部,中午时段每升高1℃的1年、3年和5年WBGT值(比值比[OR],1.055[95%置信区间1.008 - 1.105];1.062[95%置信区间1.013 - 1.114];1.059[95%置信区间1.009 - 1.111])以及工作时段(OR,1.089[95%置信区间1.034 - 1.146];1.092[95%置信区间1.037 - 1.150];1.084[95%置信区间1.031 - 1.139])均与GERD显著相关。同样,在台湾南部,中午时段每升高1℃的1年、3年和5年WBGT值(OR,1.292[95%置信区间1.236 - 1.351];1.323[95%置信区间1.261 - 1.389];1.386[95%置信区间1.316 - 1.460])以及工作时段(OR,1.238[95%置信区间1.190 - 1.288];1.247[95%置信区间1.196 - 1.301];1.259[95%置信区间1.204 - 1.318])均与GERD显著相关。然而,在台湾东部,中午时段每升高1℃的1年、3年和5年WBGT值与GERD显著相关(OR,1.067[95%置信区间1.015 - 1.122];1.089[95%置信区间1.041 - 1.138];1.107[95%置信区间1.058 - 1.158]),而工作时段每降低1℃的1年、3年和5年WBGT值与GERD显著相关。台湾中部和南部的中午时段和工作时段,平均WBGT值的升高均与GERD显著相关,且在台湾南部WBGT的影响更强。虽然在台湾东部中午时段发现了类似结果,但在工作时段发现了反向关联。我们的研究结果表明,热应激可能与GERD有关,尽管其影响可能因区域特征而异。由于本研究的横断面设计,无法确定因果关系。有必要进行进一步的纵向研究来确定这种关系。
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