title: Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children, adults, and elderly in the same community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults is increasing in Japan as well as worldwide likely due to increasing obesity and the decreasing rate of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, data regarding the prevalence of GERD in children and adolescents in Japan are lacking. We investigated the prevalence of GERD in children, adults, and elderly living in the same community.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed employees of Shimane University Hospital and a related facility and their families using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) and Izumo Scale instruments with demographic information (age, sex, body height, and body weight) and information regarding concurrent medication being taken for GERD. The presence of GERD was defined as a GerdQ score of ≥ 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1859 subjects (771 males, 1088 females; 6-96 years old) were eligible for assessment. The prevalence of GERD in those under 20 years old was 4.4%, which was approximately one third of the rate in adults (11.6%). GERD prevalence was closely associated with obesity in adults, but not in subjects under 20 years old. GERD and other gastrointestinal symptoms frequently overlapped in both adults and younger subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that the prevalence of GERD in subjects under 20 years of age was lower than that in adults and not associated with obesity. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of symptoms such as heartburn and/or regurgitation when children and adolescents seek routine clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morito
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Goichi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uno
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kousaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Matsue Seikyo General Hospital, Matsue, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kazumori
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GerdQ; Izumo Scale; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); obesity; prevalence