Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in Japan

Abstract

Approximately 6.6% of Japanese have GERD and most persons with GERD described heartburn or acid regurgitation as bothersome.

Is There a Difference in the Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease between Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis Patients?

“…21 However, clinical symptoms and the prevalence of GERD increase with aging. 25 Fujiwara et al 26 have reported similar results. In our study, the prevalence of GERD was not affected by aging in peritoneal dialysis patients, while it was related to aging in hemodialysis patients.…”

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a large unselected general population in Japan

“…They reported that GERD was present in 17.9% of the Japanese people who presented for annual medical health checks. Fujiwara et al [14] have reported the prevalence of heartburn among 6035 routine physical examinations was 24.7%. Watanabe et al [16] have reported the prevalence of GERD among 4139 hospital outpatients was 37.6%.…”

“…All of these previously mentioned studies were performed on subjects who visited a hospital as outpatients or for routine physical examination [13][14][15][16][17] . However, we consider the possibility that outpatients are symptomatic, rather than a true random sample of the population.…”

“…According to the reports from the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1994, the incidence of heartburn in Japan was only about 2% of the population who complained of symptoms. A recent study from Japan has reported patients complaining of heartburn account for 24.7%-42.2% [13][14][15][16][17] . All of these previous studies were performed on subjects who visited the hospital as outpatients or for routine physical examination [13][14][15][16][17] .…”

“…A recent study from Japan has reported patients complaining of heartburn account for 24.7%-42.2% [13][14][15][16][17] . All of these previous studies were performed on subjects who visited the hospital as outpatients or for routine physical examination [13][14][15][16][17] . However, we have to consider the possibility that outpatients are symptomatic, rather than a true random sample of the population.…”