Socio-demographic and Life Style Differences Between Males and Females as Risk Factors for Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms in Mecca City, Saudi Arabia

摘要

Background and Objectives: One of the clinical disorders that can impact the patient’s quality of life and results in high costs to health care systems worldwide is Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In Saudi Arabia, there are few studies on the prevalence of GERD in some cities. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in Saudi males and females in Mecca City. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online reflux questionnaire to assess and evaluate GERD symptoms among the Saudi population in Mecca City over an 18 year period. Socio-demographic characteristics, GERD symptoms as heartburn, regurgitation, nausea and vomiting; lifestyle and risk factors as food, soda and coffee consumption, cigarette smoking, personality type and the use of certain types of drugs, such as NSAIDs. Results: About 554 (65.3%) subjects were symptomatic. It was more frequent in males (393, 70.9%) than in females (161, 29.1%) (p = 0.0001). A highly significant difference was observed between male students and female students (p = 0.0001). A total of 171 (30.9%) males complained of experiencing heartburn once per week, compared to 75 (13.5%) female participants (p = 0.0001). Epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting were frequent. A highly significant difference was observed between obese males and females (p = 0.0001). There was a highly significant difference between male and female participants (p = 0.0001) with respect to smoking habits. Conclusion: Results of the current study showed a higher prevalence of GERD symptoms among Saudi males than females. Soft drink, coffee and tea consumption, anxious personality, obesity and overweight represented important modifiable lifestyle risk factors. Heartburn once per week and epigastric pain was the most important symptoms among our study population.