title: Prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a Chinese retiree cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data about prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD) from Asian populations are still scarce. To provide additional data on prevalence of GERD and investigate its potential risk factors, we performed this cross-sectional study in the Taizhou Retiree Cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  After physical examination, the participants were asked whether they suffered with heartburn or acid regurgitation in the last 12 months by trained interviewers, and if yes, the severity and frequency of the symptoms were recorded. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of obesity and other risk factors with GERD were derived from logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  8831 retirees completed the questionnaire and physical examination. In total 150 (1.7%) reported the symptoms occurring at least once per week within the last 12 months before the interview. Compared with subjects without GERD, having a history of diabetes mellitus (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.5), hypertension (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.1), gastritis (OR 8.2, 95% CI 5.8-11.5), peptic ulcer (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.8-6.1) and high triglyceride level (≥1.81mmol/L) (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.4) were associated with a significantly increased risk of GERD. However, there was no significant association between body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio or waist alone, smoking, consumption of alcohol & tea, and the occurrence of reflux symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with Western populations, the prevalence of GERD in this Chinese retiree cohort is low. A history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gastritis, peptic ulcer or hypertriglyceridaemia increases GERD risk in this population.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
authors.forename: Tiantian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yajun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012179:Retirement; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires