title: Higher Frequency of Reflux Symptoms and Acid-Related Dyspepsia in Women than Men Regardless of Endoscopic Esophagitis: Analysis of 3,505 Japanese Subjects Undergoing Medical Health Checkups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at (i) clarifying the factors associated with high scores on the modified frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG) among 3,505 relatively healthy subjects undergoing routine medical health checkups with gastrointestinal endoscopy and (ii) comparing risk factors for high FSSG scores between subjects with and without reflux esophagitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 3,505 subjects (male/female: 1,922/1,583) who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during health medical checkups at 5 hospitals in Saga, Japan from January 2013 to December 2013 were enrolled. All subjects completed a modified FSSG questionnaire, which comprised 7 questions regarding reflux symptoms and 7 questions regarding acid-related dyspepsia. Each question was assigned a score based on the frequency of symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Younger age, female gender, hiatal herniation, and endoscopic reflux esophagitis were risk factors for a FSSG score with a high total. Subjects with high scores but without esophagitis were women, and hiatal herniation and Barrett's esophagus were frequently seen in patients with reflux esophagitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Younger age, female gender, hiatal hernia, and endoscopic esophagitis were risk factors for a high FSSG score, and women tended to complain of upper gastrointestinal symptoms more frequently than did men among subjects without endoscopic esophagitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Saga Medical School, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Yasuhisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akutagawa
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohyama
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Hirohatu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawakubo
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Shimpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Nanae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuruoka
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iwakiri
authors.forename: Motoyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: Kazuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires