The prevalence of and risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease: a nationwide multicentre prospective study in Korea.
BACKGROUND
Prospective nationwide multicentre studies that have evaluated endoscopic findings and reflux symptoms using a well-designed questionnaire are very rare.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence rates of and risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) in the Korean population.


METHODS
A gastroscopic examination was performed on 25 536 subjects who visited 40 Healthcare Centers for a health check-up. A gastro-oesophageal reflux questionnaire and multivariate analysis were used to determine the risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and NERD.


RESULTS
2019 (8%) and 996 subjects (4%) had erosive oesophagitis and non-erosive reflux disease, respectively; only 58% of subjects with erosive oesophagitis had reflux symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and NERD differed, i.e. those of erosive oesophagitis were male, a Helicobacter pylori eradication history, alcohol, body mass index > or =25 and hiatal hernia. In contrast, the risk factors for NERD were female, age <40 and > or =60 vs. 40-59 years, body mass index <23 and a monthly income <$1000, glucose > or =126 mg/dL, smoking, a stooping posture at work and antibiotic usage.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rates of erosive oesophagitis and NERD were 8% and 4%, respectively, in Korean health check-up subjects. The risk factors for erosive oesophagitis and NERD were found to differ, which indicates that their underlying pathogeneses are distinct.
Kim
N
N
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
S W
SW
Cho
S I
SI
Park
C G
CG
Yang
C H
CH
Kim
H S
HS
Rew
J S
JS
Moon
J S
JS
Kim
S
S
Park
S H
SH
Jung
H C
HC
Chung
I S
IS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D001786:Blood Glucose