Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children, adults, and elderly in the same community. Issue 7 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Okimoto, Eiko; Ishimura, Norihisa; Morito, Yoshiya; Mikami, Hironobu; Shimura, Shino; Uno, Goichi; Tamagawa, Yuji; Aimi, Masahito; Oshima, Naoki; Kawashima, Kousaku; Kazumori, Hideaki; Sato, Shuichi; Ishihara, Shunji; Kinoshita, Yoshikazu
• Is Part Of: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. Volume 30:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1140
• Page End: 1146
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0815-9319

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jgh12899-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background and Aim</title> <p>The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults is increasing in Japan as well as worldwide likely due to increasing obesity and the decreasing rate of <italic>Helicobacter pylori</italic> infection. However, data regarding the prevalence of GERD in children and adolescents in Japan are lacking. We investigated the prevalence of GERD in children, adults, and elderly living in the same community.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12899-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We surveyed employees of Shimane University Hospital and a related facility and their families using the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire (GerdQ) and Izumo Scale instruments with demographic information (age, sex, body height, and body weight) and information regarding concurrent medication being taken for GERD. The presence of GERD was defined as a GerdQ score of ≥ 8.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12899-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>A total of 1859 subjects (771 males, 1088 females; 6–96 years old) were eligible for assessment. The prevalence of GERD in those under 20 years old was 4.4%, which was approximately one third of the rate in adults (11.6%). GERD prevalence was closely associated with obesity in adults, but not in subjects under 20 years old. GERD and other gastrointestinal symptoms frequently overlapped in both adults and younger subjects.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgh12899-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>We found that the prevalence of GERD in subjects under 20 years of age was lower than that in adults and not associated with obesity. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of symptoms such as heartburn and/or regurgitation when children and adolescents seek routine clinical care.</p> </sec> </abstract>