Esophageal function worsens with long duration of diabetes

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the duration of diabetes and esophageal dysfunction. Methods. We examined 66 patients with type 2 diabetes. Duration of diabetes was determined by asking patients and from their medical records. The patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of their diabetes: group A, 1-4 years, n = 26; group B, 5-9 years, n = 20; and group C, 10+ years, n = 20. Ambulatory esophageal 24-h pH and motility were monitored, and gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal motility disorders were estimated in detail. Results. When the duration of diabetes was long, the percentage of time with pH < 4 tended to increase. The amplitude of esophageal peristaltic waves and the frequency of effective peristalsis were reduced when the duration of diabetes was long. A significant correlation was observed between the duration of diabetes and the frequency of effective peristalsis. The number of esophageal peristaltic waves per minute and the percentage of multipeaked peristaltic waves increased significantly in group 13, and decreased when the duration of diabetes became longer. Conclusions. Gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal motility disorders worsened with long duration of diabetes. These esophageal dysfunctions should be considered in patients with long-standing diabetes.