Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in a country with a high occurrence of Helicobacter pylori .

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with additional symptoms, relationship with Helicobacter pylori ( H . pylori ) of this country-wide study.

METHODS: Data from 3214 adults were obtained with validated questionnaire. Eight hundred and forty-one subjects were randomized to be tested for H . pylori via the urea breath test. "Frequent symptoms" were defined heartburn and/or regurgitation occurring at least weekly.

RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD was 22.8%, frequent and occasional heartburn were 9.3%-12.7%, regurgitation were 16.6%-18.7%, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 18.5 showed a prevalence of 15%, BMI > 30 was 28.5%. The GERD prevalence was higher in women (26.2%) than men (18.9%) ( P < 0001). Overall prevalence of H . pylori was 75.7%. The prevalence was 77.1% in subjects without symptoms vs 71.4% in subjects with GERD ( χ 2 = 2.6, P = 0.27). Underprivileged with the lowest income people exhibit a higher risk.

CONCLUSION: GERD is common in Turkey which reflects both Western and Eastern lifestyles with high rate of H . pylori . The presence of H . pylori had no effect on either the prevalence or the symptom profile of GERD. Subjects showing classical symptoms occasionally exhibit more additional symptoms compared with those without classical symptoms.