Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
CUREUS, cilt.13, sa.5, ss.15359, 2021 (ESCI)
Introduction
Degenerative scoliosis most commonly presents with lower back pain. Literature suggests that adults who
have degenerative scoliosis are at greater risk of both hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD). The objective of this study was to evaluate scoliosis as being the risk factor of GERD in adults.
Materials and methods
This prospective study was conducted at Dow University of Health Sciences over a period of two years (May
2018 to April 2020). The investigation included 210 participants with spinal disorders. The mean age was
71.6±9.6 years. The X-rays of the participants’ whole spine were taken in a standing position, in the sagittal
and coronal planes. Symptoms of GERD were measured through the quality of life and utility evaluation
survey technology (QUEST) score, taking six points as cutoff values. The evaluation was done using
radiographs to determine any relationship between spinal disorders and GERD. Negative values were
analyzed in a right-sided convex curve while positive values in the left-sided convex curve were viewed in
the coronal plane. Degenerative scoliosis was explained as a lumbar/thoracolumbar Cobb angle of more than
10 degrees. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to assess the risk factors
related to GERD.
Results
Out of 210 patients, 146 were found to have degenerative scoliosis at the level of the lumbar and
thoracolumbar spine. Fifty-two patients had a right convex curve, and 94 had a left convex curve. Sixty-nine
patients had GERD. According to the analysis of the multivariate logistic regression, the Cobb angle was
highly related to GERD (p-value <0.05 and odds ratio of 1.031). The participants were grouped according to
the Cobb angle of curve at the lumbar spine (less than 30 degrees with a large right-sided convex curve, 30
and more with a small curve, and more than 30+ degrees with a large left-sided convex curve). The study
revealed that a large left-sided convex curve was highly related to GERD, with a p-value <0.05 and odds ratio
of 10.935.
Conclusions
The left-sided large convex curve at the thoracolumbar or lumbar spine, especially when the Cobb angle was
more than 30 degrees, was highly associated with GERD. Therefore, the symptoms of GERD should be
monitored in the elderly population with degenerative scoliosis.