Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux can significantly increase the risk of cancer in throat, tonsils and parts of the sinuses in the elderly.

‘Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) increases the risk of cancer in throat, tonsils and parts of the sinuses in older adults.’

Studies examining a link between the inflammatory condition gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or acid reflux) and the development of cancer in the respiratory and upper digestive tracts have had conflicting results.




About 13,805 patients (66 or older) with cancer of the respiratory and upper digestive tracts and 13,805 patients without cancer; patient information came from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, a registry of cancer patients and their treatments and outcomes, between 2003-2011.
The study measures cancer of the respiratory and upper digestive tracts.
This was a case-control observational study. Patients with cancer of the respiratory and upper digestive tracts (outcome) were compared to those without cancer to examine whether GERD (exposure) was associated with cancer.
Researchers were not intervening for purposes of the study and cannot control natural differences that could explain the study findings.
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The results showed that GERD was associated with cancer of the throat, tonsils and parts of the sinuses.
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The diagnosis were based on ICD-9 codes which are used for billing rather than clinical purposes.
GERD was associated with cancer in older adults in the respiratory and upper digestive tracts. This association requires further study to determine causality and to possibly identify an at-risk population so surveillance can be improved and treatment initiated earlier.
Source-Eurekalert