Gastroesophageal reflux disease prevelance in centrum of Bolu Province

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Prevelance in Centrum of Bolu ProvinceGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disorder caused by the reflux of gastric content into the esophagus and lead to symptoms or mucosal injury. GERD is a common disease of upper gastrointestinal tract. The prevalence of GERD, defined as heartburn and/or regurgitation at least 1 day a week, has been estimated at 4?20% and change by different populations. In Turkey, there is a limited number of studies for this disease epidemiology.We used the government-supported primary health-care system to draw a random sample of adults 20 to 70 years of age. Assuming a maximum GERD prevalence of 20% in this population, our required sample size was 323 adults (using a 95% CI with worst acceptable SD of ±5%). We randomly selected 388 addresses, which was 20% higher than the required number of participants, to account for the ineligibility of potential participants. We completed our questionnaire with 328 people. We used ki-square and student t test for stastistical analysis.Mean age is 41,5±13,7 years, mean height is 1,66 ±0,08 meter, mean BMI is 2,5±11,67 kg/ m², 76,5% (n=251) of people are married, 20,1% (n=66) are single and 3,4% (n=11)are divorced. Socioeconomic status is described by using education status and occupation. 127 people (38,7%) have low socioeconomic status, 101 people (30,8%) have moderate and the rest 100 people (30,5%) have low socioeconomic status.The prevalence of mild symptoms at least two day a week or moderate/severe symptom at least one day a week was; 2,75% for heartburn, 5,2% for acid regurgitation 2,75% for either symptom and 10,7 for GERD (95% CI). The prevalence of GERD in bolu was between the western and east countries. 60% of GERD patients gone to hospital because of heartburn and/or regurgitation sypmtoms. Heartburn and regurgitation were associated with noncardiac chest pain (20,4%), dysphagia (22,9%), dyspepsia (57,1%), odynophagia (35,7%), hoarseness (17%), epigastric pain (68,6%), asthma (11,4%), allerji (22,8%) but not with body mass index, age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status in both symptom groups.Key words: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Prevalence, Bolu