TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a large unselected general population in Japan
AU - Yamagishi, Hatsushi
AU - Koike, Tomoyuki
AU - Ohara, Shuichi
AU - Kobayashi, Shigeyuki
AU - Ariizumi, Ken
AU - Abe, Yasuhiko
AU - Iijima, Katsunori
AU - Imatani, Akira
AU - Inomata, Yoshifumi
AU - Kato, Katsuaki
AU - Shibuya, Daisuke
AU - Aida, Shigemitsu
AU - Shimosegawa, Tooru
PY - 2008/3/7
Y1 - 2008/3/7
N2 - Aim: To examine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in a large unselected general population in Japan. Methods: In Japan, mature adults are offered regular check-ups for the prevention of gastric cancer. A notice was sent by mail to all inhabitants aged > 40 years. A total of 160 983 Japanese (60 774 male, 100 209 female; mean age 61.9 years) who underwent a stomach check up were enrolled in this study. In addition, from these 160 983 subjects, we randomly selected a total of 82 894 (34 275 male, 48 619 female; mean age 62.4 years) to evaluate the prevalence of abdominal pain. The respective subjects were prospectively asked to complete questionnaires concerning the symptoms of heartburn, dysphagia, and abdominal pain for a 1 mo period. Results: The respective prevalences of the symptoms in males and females were: heartburn, 15.8% vs 20.7%; dysphagia, 5.4% vs 7.8%; and abdominal pain, 6.6% vs 9.6%. Among these symptoms, heartburn was significantly high compared with the other symptoms, and the prevalence of heartburn was significantly more frequent in females than in males in the 60-89-year age group. Dysphagia was also significantly more frequent in female patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of typical GERD symptoms (heartburn) was high, at about 20% of the Japan population, and the frequency was especially high in females in the 60-89 year age group.
AB - Aim: To examine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in a large unselected general population in Japan. Methods: In Japan, mature adults are offered regular check-ups for the prevention of gastric cancer. A notice was sent by mail to all inhabitants aged > 40 years. A total of 160 983 Japanese (60 774 male, 100 209 female; mean age 61.9 years) who underwent a stomach check up were enrolled in this study. In addition, from these 160 983 subjects, we randomly selected a total of 82 894 (34 275 male, 48 619 female; mean age 62.4 years) to evaluate the prevalence of abdominal pain. The respective subjects were prospectively asked to complete questionnaires concerning the symptoms of heartburn, dysphagia, and abdominal pain for a 1 mo period. Results: The respective prevalences of the symptoms in males and females were: heartburn, 15.8% vs 20.7%; dysphagia, 5.4% vs 7.8%; and abdominal pain, 6.6% vs 9.6%. Among these symptoms, heartburn was significantly high compared with the other symptoms, and the prevalence of heartburn was significantly more frequent in females than in males in the 60-89-year age group. Dysphagia was also significantly more frequent in female patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of typical GERD symptoms (heartburn) was high, at about 20% of the Japan population, and the frequency was especially high in females in the 60-89 year age group.
KW - Abdominal pain
KW - Dysphagia
KW - Gastroesophageal reflux disease
KW - Heartburn
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U2 - 10.3748/wjg.14.1358
DO - 10.3748/wjg.14.1358
M3 - Article
C2 - 18322948
AN - SCOPUS:41149131787
VL - 14
SP - 1358
EP - 1364
JO - World Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - World Journal of Gastroenterology
SN - 1007-9327
IS - 9
ER -