title: Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms and health-related quality of life in the adult general population--the Kalixanda study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms on health-related quality of life in the general population is poorly characterized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the frequency of troublesome reflux symptoms associated with impaired health-related quality of life in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative random sample of 3000 adult inhabitants of northern Sweden was surveyed using the validated Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire (response rate 74%). In total, 1001 random responders were endoscoped and assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were obtained for 999 subjects: 6% reported reflux symptoms (heartburn and/or regurgitation) daily, 14% weekly and 20% less than weekly during the previous 3 months. Compared with no reflux symptoms, a clinically relevant impairment of health-related quality of life (>or=5 points and P < 0.05) was seen in all eight Short Form-36 dimensions for daily symptoms, in five dimensions for weekly symptoms and in one dimension for less than weekly symptoms. There were no meaningful differences in Short Form-36 scores between subjects with and without oesophagitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most aspects of health-related quality of life were impaired in individuals with daily or weekly reflux symptoms. Troublesome reflux symptoms at least weekly may identify gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. jukka.ronkainen@fimnet.fi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ronkainen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aro
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storskrubb
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolling-Sternevald
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Junghard
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Talley
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agreus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology