title: Chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in the Korean population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey, using a reliable and valid Rome II based questionnaire, was performed on randomly selected residents, between 18 and 69 years in age. All respondents were interviewed at their homes or offices by a team of interviewers. The impact of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms on HRQOL was assessed using the Korean version of the 36-item Short-Form general health survey (SF-36).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1807 eligible subjects, 1417 (78.4%: male 762; female 655) were surveyed. Out of the respondents, 18.6% exhibited at least one chronic gastrointestinal symptom. The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), defined as heartburn and/or acid regurgitation experienced at least weekly, was 3.5% (95% CI, 2.6-4.5). The prevalence of uninvestigated dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic constipation based on Rome II criteria were 11.7% (95% CI, 10.1-13.5), 2.2% (95% CI, 1.5-3.1), and 2.6% (95% CI, 1.8-3.5) respectively. Compared with subjects without chronic gastrointestinal symptoms (n=1153), those with GERD (n=50), uninvestigated dyspepsia (n=166) and IBS (n=31) had significantly worse scores on most domains of the SF-36 scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of GERD, uninvestigated dyspepsia and IBS were 3.5%, 11.7% and 2.2% respectively, in the Korean population. The health-related quality of life was significantly impaired in subjects with GERD, uninvestigated dyspepsia and IBS in this community.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, #137-040, 505, Banpo-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-040, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Jo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Myung-Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jae-Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yu-Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: In-Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sok-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Kyu-Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In-Sik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003248:Constipation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents