Psychological factors have a greater impact on the severity of oesophageal disease symptoms than objective measures such as acid reflux and motor function.
In Japan, general psychological well-being is assessed through various questionnaires, but none were specific to oesophageal symptoms. In 2018, the Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale (EHAS) was developed in the United States to evaluate anxiety and hypervigilance related to oesophageal disorders. To broaden its use, Dr. Akinari Sawada’s team at Osaka Metropolitan University collaborated with the original developers to create a Japanese version of the EHAS.
The study analyzed 432 patients who underwent oesophageal manometry across six Japanese institutions to assess the reliability of the translated questionnaire. Despite minor cultural adjustments, the Japanese EHAS version showed validity when compared to standardised physical and mental health surveys. Additionally, in a subgroup of 113 patients with oesophageal achalasia and related conditions, higher EHAS scores correlated with more severe symptom perception.
