title: Economic burden of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia: A community-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and dyspepsia are common digestive disorders that inflict serious harm, burden and economic consequences on individuals worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the direct and indirect economic burden of GERD and dyspepsia in the whole population of Tehran, the capital of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed on a total of 18,180 adult subjects (age>18 years) taken as a random sample in Tehran province, Iran (2006-2007). A valid and reliable questionnaire was used to enquire about the symptoms of GERD, dyspepsia and the frequency of the utilization of health services including physician visits, hospitalisations and productivity loss due to GERD/dyspepsia symptoms in the preceding 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GERD was found in 518 (41.9% males) patients and dyspepsia in 404 patients (38.9% males). Further 1007 subjects had both GERD and dyspepsia. The total direct costs of disease per patient for GERD, dyspepsia and their overlap were PPP$97.70, PPP$108.10 and PPP$101.30, respectively (PPP, purchasing power parity dollars). The total indirect cost of disease per patient was PPP$13.7, PPP$12.1 and PPP$32.7, for GERD, dyspepsia and their overlap, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results, hospitalisation and physician visits were the main cost of disease that could be minimised by revision of the insurance business in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Taleghani Hospital, Tabnak Street/Yaman Avenue, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moghimi-Dehkordi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khoshkrood Mansoori
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasaeian
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Safaee
authors.forename: Manijeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.forename: Asma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourhoseingholi
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pourhoseingholi
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004526:Efficiency; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires