The influence of ageing on oesophageal motility after ingestion of liquids with different viscosities

OBJECTIVES: To verify the influence of ageing on oesophageal motility elicited by the swallowing of liquids with different viscosities. DESIGN: In order to study the effect of ageing on oesophageal function, healthy volunteers of three age groups were studied by manometric and scintigraphic methods during the swallowing of water and a high viscosity liquid. METHODS: Forty healthy volunteers (20 aged 20 to 30 years, 10 aged 50 to 60 years and 10 aged 70 to 80 years) were submitted to oesophageal manometry during 10 swallows of water, 10 swallows of sugar cane syrup and 10 "dry' swallows. Basal pressure of the upper oesophageal sphincter and the lower oesophageal sphincter, amplitude, duration and velocity of contraction and the duration of the lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation were measured. Morphology and peristalsis of contractile waves were studied. The same volunteers underwent scintigraphic oesophageal transit studies with the same boluses. Oesophageal clearance time and patterns of transit were studied. RESULTS: Water and sugar cane syrup did not differ as to quantitative contraction parameters, but sugar cane syrup led to a higher incidence of synchronous contractions. The three age groups had similar amplitude and velocity of contractile waves. The youngest group had shorter duration of contractile waves 10 and 5 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter. The oldest group had markedly more frequent synchronous contractions and failures of contraction after both water and sugar cane syrup swallows. This was associated with a high incidence of scintigraphic transit abnormalities in this group. CONCLUSION: Abnormal oesophageal peristalsis and incomplete oesophageal emptying of both low and high viscosity liquids are significantly more frequent in healthy elderly persons than in younger persons.