[Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and quality of life: population study].
OBJECTIVE
To study prevalence of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in a free living population and to evaluate quality of life (QOL) in this disease.


METHODS
The gastroenterological symptoms and QOL were studied in a representative sample of adult population of 495 males and 548 females aged 45-70 years using a validated questionnaire, SF-36 questionnaire.


RESULTS
GER symptoms were seen in 17.0% responders, with the same frequency in men and women, in responders of different age. QOL was worse in responders with GER by 2 scales of SF-36 questionnaire: in males--"general well-being" and "viability", in females--"general well-being" and "physical functioning". In persons who had visited a doctor QOL was lower by all 8 scales than in those who had GER symptoms but had not visited a doctor. GER prevalence in Russia is similar to that in the West Europe and USA. QOL in GER patients is not low but worse in those who seek medical advice.
Reshetnikov
O V
OV
Kurilovich
S A
SA
Simonova
G I
GI
Pylenkova
E D
ED
Maliutina
S K
SK
Gorbunova
O G
OG
Bogatyrev
S N
SN
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006356:Heartburn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012800:Siberia / Q000453:epidemiology