title: Perception of gastroesophageal reflux disease in urban population in Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency and health care seeking behavior of patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms using American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) questionnaire for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2002 to November 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1267 persons above 15 years of age were interviewed using a modified questionnaire for GERD from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), which previously validated in our section as a screening tool in an urban population in Pakistan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine hundred and sixty-three individuals responded to the questionnaire. Mean age of the surveyed sample was 24+/-9.3 years. Using the ACG criteria, the overall frequency of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms was 24% (228/963) with 58% (133/228) males and 42% (95/228) females. Symptoms experienced frequently were reflux from the stomach, 58% (133/228), with a bitter, acid taste in the mouth. Seventy-four percent (169/228) experienced this postprandially. Symptoms were associated with spicy fried food in 71% (161/228). Sixty-seven percent (152/228) did not seek health care advice, 32% (74/228) practiced self-medications and 33% (76/228) consulted a physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastroesophageal reflux is a common problem in the urban population of Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan Medical University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nadim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jafri
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jafri
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yakoob
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manzoor
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalil
authors.forename: Faraz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hashmi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D014504:Urban Health