Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a large unselected general population in Japan

Abstract

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 160983 Japanese (60774 male, 100209 female; mean age 61.9 years) who underwent a stomach check up were enrolled in this study. In addition, from these 160983 subjects, we randomly selected a total of 82894 (34275 male, 48619 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.

Figure 1

Prevalence of each symptom. Overall gender-specific prevalence rate for heartburn, dysphagia, and abdominal pain. Among these symptoms, heartburn was significantly high compared with the other symptoms. All symptoms were significantly more common in females than in males (χ² test, P < 0.0001 vs the symptom group).

Figure 2

Age- and gender-specific prevalence rate for heartburn over a 1 mo period. Heartburn was significantly high in females in the 60-89-year age group (χ² test, ^bP < 0.0001 vs each generation group).

Figure 3

Age- and gender-specific prevalence rate for dysphagia over a 1 mo period. Dysphagia was significantly more frequent in females than in males in all age groups (χ² test, ^bP < 0.0001 and ^aP < 0.05 vs each generation group).

Figure 4

Age- and gender-specific prevalence rate for abdominal pain over a 1 mo period. Women were significantly more symptomatic than men in all age groups, except 30-39 years (χ² test, ^bP < 0.0001 and ^aP < 0.05 vs each generation group).