Table I.
General characteristics of the patients and controls.
| Characteristics | Patients | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Sample size, n | 68 | 39 |
| Sex, n, male/female | 35/33 | 20/19 |
| Age, mean ± standard deviation | 59±13 | 60±14 |
| Dysphagia, n (%) | 63 (92.6) | - |
| Esophageal regurgitation, n (%) | 57 (83.8) | - |
| Chest pain, n (%) | 11 (16.2) | - |
| Weight loss, n (%) | ||
| <5 | 48 (70.6) | - |
| 5-10 | 13 (19.1) | - |
| >10 | 7 (10.3) | - |
| Autoimmune condition, n (%) | 18 (26.5) | - |
| Megaesophagus, n (%) | 21(30) | - |
| Pneumatic dilatation, n (%) | 18 (26.5) | - |
| Surgical myotomy, n (%) | 35 (51.5) | - |
| Pneumatic dilatation and surgical myotomy, n (%) | 15(22) | - |