Prevalence of Symptoms Suggestive of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in an Adult Population

Abstract

Symptoms suggestive of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease are very common. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of these symptoms and factors influencing them in an unselected adult population. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 2500 people aged > or = 20 years. The questions concerned heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, chest and upper abdominal pain, as well as medication and medical consultations for these symptoms. Of the 1700 (68%) responders, 9% had experienced heartburn on the day of response and 15%, 21% and 27% during the preceding week, month and year, respectively. The corresponding figures for regurgitation were 5, 15, 29 and 45%. During the past year 43% of the study group had had no such symptoms. Age, overweight, pregnancy and cigarette smoking significantly influenced the prevalence of symptoms. Using daily heartburn and/or regurgitation as dominant indicators 10.3% (95% CI 12-11.7) of the responders had gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Medication (most commonly antacids) was used by only 16% of the symptomatic people, and only 5.5% had sought medical advice for symptoms during the past year. Thus, despite commonness of symptoms suggestive of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease only a minority of the individuals suffering from such symptoms use medication or have medical consultation.

A 13-nation population survey of upper gastrointestinal symptoms: prevalence of symptoms and socioeconomic factors

“…This is in line with some data from El Serag et al 31 and Isolauri and Laippala. 18 However, neither the lowest nor the highest achieved level of education but rather, graduation from senior high school, was negatively associated with UGI symptom and dyspepsia prevalence in our study. However, this association was observed in the univariate analysis, but did not significantly affect the UGI symptom prevalence in the multivariate analysis.…”

“…30 In contrast, alcohol consumption did not significantly affect the risk of a first time diagnosis of GERD in data from the UK GP database study. 22 An excess body mass ⁄ higher BMI has been reported to be associated with the prevalence of GERD, 18,30,31 although the OR was small [OR 1.3 (95% CI: 1.2-1.4) for BMI >25 and OR 1.3 (95% CI: 1.2-1.5) for BMI >30]. 22 In our study, UGI symptom prevalence was inversely associated with educational level.…”

“…13 Other studies suggest an increase of GERD prevalence in recent years. 14,15 However, studies on the influence of age and gender on GERD and GER symptoms have yielded inconsistent results 13,[16][17][18] and a low socioeconomic status has been reported to be associated with UGI symptoms in some countries.…”

Cigarette Smoking and its Association with Overlapping Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Functional Dyspepsia, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome

“…Previous epidemiological findings concerning the associations between smoking habit and GERD, FD, or IBS have been inconclusive (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Several studies have shown that smoking is significantly associated with GERD (10-13), uninvestigated dyspepsia (14-16), postprandial distress syndrome (a subtype of FD) (17,18), and IBS (19,20), especially, in female IBD (21) and diarrhea-predominant IBS (22).…”

“…Therefore, physicians should pay attention to the overlapping of functional GI disorders. There are several studies concerning risk factors associated with GERD, FD, or IBS (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). Our previous study showed that smoking and drinking habits were associated with GERD (13); female gender, low body mass index (BMI), smoking and drinking habits with FD (18); younger age, female gender, low BMI and presence of allergic diseases with IBS (22).…”