Overlap of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome: prevalence and risk factors in the general population.
BACKGROUND
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome may occur more often than expected by chance, but little community data exists and risk factors are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence and risk factors for overlap of GERD and irritable bowel disease.


METHODS
Population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted by mailing a valid symptom questionnaire to eligible residents of Olmsted County, MN, aged 30-95 years. Irritable bowel syndrome were defined by Rome III; GERD was defined by weekly or more frequent heartburn and/or acid regurgitation.


RESULTS
2298 questionnaires returned (women 52%, 55% response). Irritable bowel syndrome and GERD occurred together more commonly than expected by chance; the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap, GERD alone and irritable bowel syndrome alone were 3%, 15% and 5% in men, and 4%, 14% and 10% in women, respectively. Predictors of irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap vs. irritable bowel syndrome alone, and separately, GERD alone, were insomnia (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.06-1.70; OR 1.5, 95% CI: 1.13-1.90, respectively) and frequent abdominal pain (OR 3.9, 2.2-6.7; OR 1.8, 1.02-3.2, respectively). An additional predictor of irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap vs. GERD alone was higher somatization (OR 1.7, 1.1-2.4) and for irritable bowel syndrome-GERD overlap vs. irritable bowel syndrome alone was a higher body mass index (OR 1.0, 1.003-1.07).


CONCLUSIONS
Irritable bowel syndrome and GERD overlap is common in the population and does not occur by chance.
Jung
H-K
HK
Dyspepsia Center and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Halder
S
S
McNally
M
M
Locke
G R
GR
Schleck
C D
CD
Zinsmeister
A R
AR
Talley
N J
NJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors