title: Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in major depressive disorder: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common physical disease among psychiatric patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence and risk of GERD in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The study subjects included 4790 patients with MDD and 728,749 people in the general population during 2005. Distributions of GERD as well as age, gender, income, region of residence, and medical comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal disease, hyperlipidemia, and ischemic heart disease, in the 2 groups were examined by χ(2)-tests. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between MDD and GERD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 1-year prevalence rates of GERD in patients with MDD and the general population were 3.75% and 1.05%, respectively. The prevalence rate of GERD was significantly higher in patients with MDD in all age, sex, insurance amount, region, and urbanicity subgroups (all p < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients with MDD were significantly associated with an increased rate for GERD ([Odds Ratio] = 3.16; 95% Confidence Interval = 2.71-3.68; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of GERD was significantly higher in patients with MDD. In clinical practice, psychiatrists should pay attention to the possibility of GERD symptoms, such as heartburn, regurgitation, or dysphagia, and should consider consulting Gastroenterology specialists when clinically indicated.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Po-Han
authors: PH
authors: Chou
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Chien
authors: CC
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Ching-Heng
authors: CH
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors: Chia-Jui
authors: CJ
authors: Tsai
authors: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
authors: Chin
authors: C
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Chuo
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Chin-Hong
authors: CH
authors: Chan
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: tosafish@gmail.com.
authors: Tsuo-Hung
authors: TH
authors: Lan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult