“Achalasia individuals have a higher mortality risk compared to the general population individuals, with one additional death per six individuals over 10 years of follow-up.”

A study from Sweden found that people with achalasia had a higher risk of death compared to similar individuals from the general population. The study included 704 adults diagnosed with achalasia who underwent endoscopic examination of the esophagus between 1969 and 2017.

Researchers tracked all-cause mortality over a median follow-up of 9.1 years. The mortality rate was 69.4 per 1,000 person-years in the achalasia group, compared to 51.9 per 1,000 person-years in the matched reference group. Overall, patients with achalasia had a 42% higher risk of death.

Achalasia patients also showed an increased risk of death from cancer—especially esophageal cancer—as well as respiratory diseases and other causes. When compared to their siblings without achalasia, they still had a higher risk of all-cause mortality.

The study highlighted the importance of long-term monitoring for individuals with achalasia, with a focus on early detection of esophageal cancer and other complications. These findings were published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

(Source:https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/achalasia-linked-higher-mortality-risk-2025a10008t8)