title: Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and uninvestigated dyspepsia in Korea: a population-based study.
abstract: Various reports on the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and uninvestigated dyspepsia have been conducted in Western countries. We sought to determine the frequency of GERD symptoms and uninvestigated dyspepsia in Korea. Telephone interviews were conducted with 1,044 individuals. Of all subjects, 7.1% reported that GERD symptoms were present at least once a week, and 3.8% at least twice a week. The prevalence of heartburn according to educational level and acid regurgitation according to age was significantly different (P < 0.05). The prevalence of uninvestigated dyspepsia was reported as 12.2%. Dyspepsia was divided into subgroups of 34% ulcer-like, 56% dysmotility-like, and 10% nonspecific. The occurrence of dyspepsia did not vary according to age, gender, educational level and household income. As frequency of GERD symptoms increased, quality of life significantly decreased. We concluded that GERD symptoms and uninvestigated dyspepsia were prevalent in Korea. The prevalence was similar to that of other Asian countries.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Hanyang University Hospital, Sungdong-Ku, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Oh Young
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Bak
authors.forename: Dae Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Sang Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Geun Tae
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ho Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hahm
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Hoo
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life