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. 2022 Mar 15;17(3):e0265152.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265152. eCollection 2022.

Prevalence of reflux-related symptoms in South-Hungarian blood donor volunteers

Krisztina Helle  1 , Lenke Bálint  1 , Veronika Szekeres  2 , Georgina Ollé  1 , András Rosztóczy  1
Affiliations

Prevalence of reflux-related symptoms in South-Hungarian blood donor volunteers

Krisztina Helle et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background/aim: Population-based studies on the prevalence of GERD-related symptoms are still missing in Eastern Europe, therefore, we aimed to obtain such data in South-East Hungarian subjects.

Methods: A total of 2,002 apparently healthy blood donor volunteers were consecutively enrolled and completed detailed questionnaires related to general factors, demographic data, socioeconomical factors, and the presence and frequency of typical and atypical GERD-related symptoms.

Results: Among 2,002 study participants, 56.5% were completely asymptomatic. The prevalence of typical GERD symptoms appearing at least monthly or weekly was 16.5% and 6.8%, respectively. Two-thirds (209/330) of the patients experienced at least monthly occurring typical GERD symptoms and also had associated atypical symptoms and this was even more pronounced when comparing subgroups with higher symptom frequencies. Significant correlations were found between monthly GERD-related complaints and height, body mass index (BMI), coffee consumption, and smoking. Positive family history was another significant factor in all the symptom-frequency categories. GERD-related symptom frequency showed a linear association with sex (R2 = 0.75, P = 0.0049). Typical and atypical GERD symptoms were significantly more common in those with chronic diseases than those without. Heartburn was observed in 12.5% and 4.4% (P<0.05) and acid regurgitation was seen in 6.9% and 1.8% (P<0.05), respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of GERD-related symptoms in South Hungary was significantly lower than that in Western countries and was closer to Eastern values. The presence of mild, non-exclusionary chronic diseases significantly increased the prevalence of GERD-related symptoms, as well as positive family history of GERD, height, BMI, coffee consumption, and smoking.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. The occurrence of atypical symptoms in participants with typical GERD symptoms.
There is a positive linear association between the frequency of the typical GERD-related symptom, and the presence of atypical symptoms (AS). (R2 = 0.9748, P<0.0001).
Fig 2
Fig 2. The frequency of GERD-related symptoms is positively associated to female sex (R2 = 0.75, P = 0.0049).
Similar association was found if only the typical symptoms were assessed.
Fig 3
Fig 3. The frequency of GERD-related typical symptoms is positively associated to the presence of overweight (R2 = 0.63, P = 0.0497).
Similar association was found if all (typical + atypical) reflux related symptoms were assessed.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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