Rising trend in paediatric eosinophilic esophagitis incidence in Spain:
results of a prospective study 2014-16
Abstract
Objetives: The rate of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) diagnosis is
increasing. This study aims to determine the incidence of EoE in the
paediatric population residing in the southwestern Madrid and to analyse
whether absolute monthly pollen counts, modified or not by the principal
atmospheric pollutants, are associated with it. Methods: A prospective
observational study was designed to calculate the incidence of EoE in
children aged under 15 years who were diagnosed between September 2014
and August 2016 in twelve area hospitals. We collected clinical data,
date of endoscopic diagnosis and the number of first-time endoscopies
performed. Relative risk estimation was performed to assess the
association between the incidence of diagnosis and monthly pollen counts
and levels of atmospheric pollutants. Results: One hundred forty-eight
patients were included. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain
42.57%, dysphagia 42.57% and impaction 39-86%. The average overall
monthly incidence was 1.27 (0.41-2.67) cases/100,000 children and the
annual average was 15.2. The overall analysis of the relationship
between incidence and absolute monthly counts and air pollutants,
corrected for the number of first-time endoscopies performed, revealed
no statistically significant association. There was a higher frequency
of diagnosis during the pollination period of Cupressaceae and during
February and November (relative risk 1.67; p<0.01).
Conclusions: This study confirms the high incidence of eosinophilic
esophagitis and also suggest a period of higher incidence of diagnosis
in the months of February and November as well as in the period of high
pollination of Cupressaceae.