title: Ethnic variation, epidemiological factors and quality of life impairment associated with dyspepsia in urban Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of ethnicity in the development of dyspepsia remains uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the epidemiology of dyspepsia in a multi-ethnic Asian population and its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a representative urban population in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2039 adults (mean +/- s.d. age: 40.5 +/- 11.8 years, males 44.2%, ethnicity: Malays 45.3%, Chinese 38.0% and Indians 13.1%, tertiary education level 62%, professional employment 47.7% and median monthly income USD 850.00) were interviewed. Dyspepsia was prevalent in 496 (24.3%) adults. Independent predictors for dyspepsia, explored by logistic regression, were identified as: Malay (OR 2.17, 95% CI = 1.57-2.99) and Indian (OR 1.59, 95% CI = 1.03-2.45) ethnicity, heavy chilli intake (OR 2.35, 95% CI = 1.15-4.80), use of regular analgesia (OR 3.51, 95% CI = 2.54-4.87) and chronic illness (OR 1.67, 95% CI = 1.22-2.28). HRQOL was assessed with the EQ-5D and significantly lower scores were noted in dyspeptics compared with healthy controls (0.85 +/- 0.17 vs. 0.95 +/- 0.12, P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ethnicity, in addition to recognized epidemiological factors, is a risk factor for dyspepsia in an urban multi-racial Asian population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. sanjiv@ummc.edu.my <sanjiv@ummc.edu.my>
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahadeva
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rampal
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Everett
authors.forename: K-L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Goh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult