title: Comparison of Risk Factors and Disease Severity Between Old and Young Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) tends to relapse and develop complications. The aim of the study was to compare the risk factors and disease severity of GERD in young and old patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from patients with GERD were collected between January and November 2009. The enrolled cases were assigned to the younger group if they were below 65 years, or the elderly group if 65 years or older. The general demographic data, lifestyle characteristics and endoscopic findings of the two groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all enrolled 111 patients, 78 and 33 patients were classified in the younger and elderly groups, respectively. The elderly group had significantly more men than the younger group did (72.7% vs 39.7%, P = 0.001). Lower rates of smoking (3% vs 6.4%, P = 0.029) and tea drinking (21.3% vs 34.6%, P = 0.001) were noted in the elderly patients, but similar rates of alcohol and coffee drinking. There were more severe esophagitis, esophagocardiac junction (ECJ) ulcers (21.2% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.003) and hiatal hernia (36.4% vs 16.9%, P = 0.025) in the elderly group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly GERD patients were more likely to be male, and having severe esophagitis, but lower rates of cigarette smoking and tea drinking, than those of younger patients.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Shou-Wu
authors: SW
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Teng-Yu
authors: TY
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Han-Chung
authors: HC
authors: Lien
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hong-Zen
authors: HZ
authors: Yeh
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Chi-Sen
authors: CS
authors: Chang
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chung-Wang
authors: CW
authors: Ko
keywords: Elderly; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Risk factor