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Race and Gender Influences the Presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

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Abstract

Our understanding of the influence of race and gender on the presentation of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is incomplete. To address this gap, we examined the effect of race and gender on the presentation of EoE. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 755 EoE patients and recorded their demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and histologic information. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the cohort. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of race and gender after accounting for potential confounders. There was a bimodal distribution for age at diagnosis of EoE. Approximately 43% had pediatric onset EoE, while 57% had adult onset EoE. Male (68%) predominance was observed. Dysphagia (57%) and abdominal pain (20%) were among the most common presenting symptoms. Multivariate analysis revealed that African Americans (AAs) were diagnosed earlier [aOR: 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95–0.99); P = 0.01] and had significantly lower odds of manifesting furrows [aOR: 0.30 (95% CI: 0.12–0.77); P = 0.01] as compared with Whites. Males were diagnosed earlier [aOR 0.98 (0.97–0.99; P = 0.04] and had higher odds of having abnormal endoscopic findings [aOR: 1.43 (1.05–1.97); P = 0.02] when compared with females. Race and gender influence the presentation of EoE. Future studies aimed at investigating the interplay between race, gender, and molecular mechanisms of EoE are warranted.

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Funding

Girish Hiremath is supported by the American College of Gastroenterology Junior Faculty Development Award and 1K23DK131341 award by the National Institutes of Health. Yash Choksi is supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Medical Research (IK2BX004648) and Vanderbilt DDRC Pilot and Feasibility grant (P30 058404).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, DOT 11226, 2200, Children’s Way, Nashville, TN, 37232-5280, USA

    Girish Hiremath

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Aaron Yazdian

  3. Division of Adult Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Ifeanyi Onuh & Yash Choksi

  4. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA

    Jade Willey

  5. Tennessee Valley Health System, Veterans Affairs, Nashville, TN, USA

    Yash Choksi

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  1. Girish Hiremath
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  4. Jade Willey
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  5. Yash Choksi
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Contributions

Guarantor of the article: YC, MD. Study concept and design: GH, YC. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: GH, AY, IO, JW, YC. Drafting the manuscript: GH, YC. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: GH, AY, IO, JW, YC. All authors approve the final draft submitted.

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Correspondence to Girish Hiremath.

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Hiremath, G., Yazdian, A., Onuh, I. et al. Race and Gender Influences the Presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Dysphagia 38, 1511–1518 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-023-10577-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-023-10577-y

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