Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Moscow

Abstract

Limited data exist to determine the prevalence and clinical spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the Russian population, which might be different from those in Western countries. This study was performed in Moscow on randomized 1065 adults aged ≥ 15 years. A validated reflux questionnaire comprising 72 questions and an additional 29 sub-questions were used. The questions assessed (heartburn and regurgitation) and related (dyspepsia, dysphagia, odynophagia and chest pain) symptoms, the triggering factors of these symptoms, family history and data on demographic and socioeconomic features. GERD was defined as heartburn and/or regurgitation once a week or common. Of the 1065 participants, 42.1% were male and 57.9% were female. The prevalences of frequent and occasional symptoms were 17.6 and 22.1% for heartburn and 17.5 and 21.8% for regurgitation, respectively, over the last 12 months. The prevalence of GERD was found to be 23.6%. The rate of GERD was significantly higher in females than in males (15.4 vs. 29.5%, P < 0.001) and significantly increased as the age of the participants increased (P = 0.011). GERD was present in 20.4% of smokers, 24.2% of coffee drinkers, 21.5% of alcohol consumers and 45.9% of stressed participants. Although the rate of alcohol consumers was lower in those with GERD compared with those without GERD, the rate of coffee drinkers and stressed participants was higher among those with GERD. The rate of additional symptoms was higher even in participants complaining of regurgitation/heartburn rarely, compared with those without complaints. Using the same questionnaire, which makes it possible to compare the present results with those from different countries, we found the prevalence of GERD in Moscow to be 23.6%, one of highest in the Western populations. The rates of heartburn and regurgitation were found to be similar, which constitutes a different result than has been found in similar studies. Additional symptoms should be assessed, in all GERD patients even in the presence of rare complaints of regurgitation/heartburn.

Global prevalence of, and risk factors for, gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms: a meta-analysis

“…Sixty-nine studies reported the duration of symptoms required to meet criteria for gastro-oesophageal reflux, with 36 using 12 months,11 24 28 29 31 32 35–37 41 42 46–48 56 62 65 67 69 70 73 74 77 79–83 86 94 100 102 104 107 111 115 6 using 6 months,19 34 38 51 71 101 11 using 3 months,23 26 33 39 40 43 44 52 60 87 109 7 using 1 month53 64 78 88 92 106 118 and 9 using 1 week 27 59 66 84 99 105 112 114 117. The prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms was highest in studies that used a 1-month timeframe (20.1%), but was also higher in studies that used 6 months, compared with those that used 12 months (17.6% vs 14.1%) (table 2).…”

“…The prevalence using this definition was 9.4% (95% CI 9.1% to 9.7%), but heterogeneity between studies remained (I 2 =98.7%, p<0.001). There were another 30 studies that used a frequency of symptoms of at least weekly for the last 12 months,11 28 29 32 36 41 46–48 56 65 67 69 70 73 74 77 79 80–83 86 94 100 102 104 107 111 115 and when these were pooled the prevalence was 14.0% (95% CI 12.1% to 16.1%), again with significant heterogeneity between studies (I 2 =99.0%, p<0.001).…”

“…In the remaining studies, 30 used a postal questionnaire,19–23 25–27 29 32 36 37 39 54 56 60–62 64 66 69 75 78 81 94 97 100 106 111 118 22 conducted a face-to-face interview,11 31 33 41 45 53 58 59 63 65 67 70 71 76 91 95 99 101 103 107 115 117 16 used a self-completed questionnaire (including internet-based questionnaires),24 35 44 48 50 77 84 85 87–90 96 110 112 114 17 used an interview-administered questionnaire28 30 38 51 55 57 73 80 82 83 86 92 98 102 104 116 119 and 16 used a questionnaire completed during a telephone interview 34 40 42 43 46 47 49 52 68 72 74 79 93 105 108 109. Pooled prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms was highest in the 30 studies that used a postal q...…”

“…There were 30 studies that reported the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms according to smoking status 11 32 36 38 46 49 51 58 59 69 71 77 80 83 84 85 88 89 92 100 102 104 105 107 109 115 117–120. The pooled prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms was higher in current smokers compared with non-smokers (19.6% (95% CI 14.9% to 24.7%) vs 15.9% (95% CI 13.1% to 19.0%)).…”

“…There were 10 studies reporting the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms according to NSAID and/or aspirin use or non-use 32 36 46 59 77 80 100 105 107 115. Overall, the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms among NSAID and/or aspirin users was significantly higher (25.5% (95% CI 18.4% to 33.3%) vs 19.6% (95% CI 14.5% to 25.1%)), with an OR of 1.44 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.88), and significant heterogeneity between studies (I 2 =84%, p<0.001).…”