Prevalence and Associated Factors of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease among a Sample of Undergraduate Medical Students in Baghdad

Abstract

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in adults. It develops when the stomach contents reflux into the esophagus as a result of lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction. It is a multifactorial disease with both environmental and genetic risk factors as suggested by several epidemiological studies. The classical symptoms of GERD are heartburn, usually after eating, regurgitation and chest pain. There are very few studies on the magnitude of GERD among students. Most medical students who suffer from GERD and/or dyspeptic symptoms do not reach out to a doctor since they either consider these symptoms insignificant or do self-medication.Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of GERD among a group of medical students and the potential risk factors associated with it.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 300 undergraduate students of the College of Medicine / University of Baghdad by simple random sampling from 15th of January to 1st of June 2020. All participants answered online questionnaire for GERD symptoms. The questionnaire included demographic data (age and gender), anthropometric data (height and weight), and lifestyle and dietary habits. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Results with a P value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: Of the sample studied, 216 (72%) were females and 84 (28%) were males. The mean±SD for age was 21.9 ± 1.81 years and the prevalence of GERD was 13.3%. A positive family history of GERD was found in 86 (28.7%) of the participants which was statistically significant (P =0.001). Of the students studied, 28 (9.3%) were sleeping within one hour of eating a meal (P =0.001). Those taking antacids and PPIs were 38 (12.7%) and 41 (13.7%) respectively, with a significant association with GERD (P =0.001). Frequent belching was reported by 20 (6.7%) (P =0.001). No significant association was found between GERD score, general characteristics and dietary habits.Conclusions: GRED Prevalence was 13.3%. Family history of GERD and late dinners were associated factors with GRED, while Oesphageal-Gastro-Dudenoscopy (OGD) was an associated diagnostic procedure, and belching was an associated symptom.