Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms and health-related quality of life in the adult general population--the Kalixanda study.
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.
Ronkainen
J
J
Center for Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. jukka.ronkainen@fimnet.fi
Aro
P
P
Storskrubb
T
T
Lind
T
T
Bolling-Sternevald
E
E
Junghard
O
O
Talley
N J
NJ
Agreus
L
L
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