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      Lifestyle Characteristics and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Population-Based Study in Albania

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          Abstract

          Aim. We aimed to assess the prevalence and lifestyle correlates of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the adult population of Albania, a Mediterranean country in Southeast Europe which has experienced major behavioral changes in the past two decades. Methods. A cross-sectional study, conducted in 2012, included a population-representative sample of 845 individuals (≥18 years) residing in Tirana (345 men, mean age: 51.3 ± 18.5; 500 women, mean age: 49.7 ± 18.8; response rate: 84.5%). Assessment of GERD was based on Montreal definition. Covariates included socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and body mass index. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle factors with GERD. Results. The overall prevalence of GERD was 11.9%. There were no significant sex differences, but a higher prevalence among the older participants. In fully adjusted models, there was a positive relationship of GERD with smoking, physical inactivity, fried food consumption, and obesity, but not so for alcohol intake and meat consumption. Conclusion. We obtained important evidence on the prevalence and lifestyle correlates of GERD in a Western Balkans' country. Smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity were strong “predictors” of GERD in this population. Findings from this study should be replicated in prospective studies in Albania and other transitional settings.

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          Epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review.

          J. Dent, H B El-Serag, M.-A. Wallander … (2005)
          A systematic review of the epidemiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) has been performed, applying strict criteria for quality of studies and the disease definition used. The prevalence and incidence of GORD was estimated from 15 studies which defined GORD as at least weekly heartburn and/or acid regurgitation and met criteria concerning sample size, response rate, and recall period. Data on factors associated with GORD were also evaluated. An approximate prevalence of 10-20% was identified for GORD, defined by at least weekly heartburn and/or acid regurgitation in the Western world while in Asia this was lower, at less than 5%. The incidence in the Western world was approximately 5 per 1000 person years. A number of potential risk factors (for example, an immediate family history and obesity) and comorbidities (for example, respiratory diseases and chest pain) associated with GORD were identified. Data reported in this systematic review can be interpreted with confidence as reflecting the epidemiology of "true" GORD. The disease is more common in the Western world than in Asia, and the low rate of incidence relative to prevalence reflects its chronicity. The small number of studies eligible for inclusion in this review highlights the need for global consensus on a symptom based definition of GORD.
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            Body-mass index and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in women.

            Ciarán Kelly, Gabriela A C G Camargo, E Somers … (2006)
            Overweight and obese persons are at increased risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease. An association between body-mass index (BMI)--the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters - and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in persons of normal weight has not been demonstrated. In 2000, we used a supplemental questionnaire to determine the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease among randomly selected participants in the Nurses' Health Study. After categorizing women according to BMI as measured in 1998, we used logistic-regression models to study the association between BMI and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Of 10,545 women who completed the questionnaire (response rate, 86 percent), 2310 (22 percent) reported having symptoms at least once a week, and 3419 (55 percent of those who had any symptoms) described their symptoms as moderate in severity. We observed a dose-dependent relationship between increasing BMI and frequent reflux symptoms (multivariate P for trend <0.001). As compared with women who had a BMI of 20.0 to 22.4, the multivariate odds ratios for frequent symptoms were 0.67 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.48 to 0.93) for a BMI of less than 20.0, 1.38 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.13 to 1.67) for a BMI of 22.5 to 24.9, 2.20 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.81 to 2.66) for a BMI of 25.0 to 27.4, 2.43 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.96 to 3.01) for a BMI of 27.5 to 29.9, 2.92 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.35 to 3.62) for a BMI of 30.0 to 34.9, and 2.93 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.24 to 3.85) for a BMI of 35.0 or more. Even in women with a normal baseline BMI, an increase in BMI of more than 3.5, as compared with no weight changes, was associated with an increased risk of frequent symptoms of reflux (odds ratio, 2.80; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.63 to 4.82). BMI is associated with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in both normal-weight and overweight women. Even moderate weight gain among persons of normal weight may cause or exacerbate symptoms of reflux. Copyright 2006 Massachusetts Medical Society.
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              Lifestyle related risk factors in the aetiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux.

              R Johnsen, Jesper Lagergren, Lena Nilsson … (2004)
              The aetiology of gastro-oesophageal reflux is largely unknown. The authors' aim was to examine the relation between lifestyle habits and gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms. Participants of two consecutive public health surveys in Nord-Trondelag, Norway. In a case control study within the two public health surveys, 3153 individuals who in the second survey reported severe heartburn or regurgitation during the last 12 months were defined as cases, while 40 210 people without reflux symptoms constituted the control group. The risk of reflux symptoms was estimated and multivariately calculated as odds ratios in relation to exposure to tobacco smoking, alcohol, coffee, tea, table salt, cereal fibres, and physical exercise. There was a significant dose response association between tobacco smoking and reflux symptoms. Among people who had smoked daily for more than 20 years the odds ratio was 1.7 (95% confidence interval 1.5 to 1.9) compared with non-smokers. A similar positive association was found for table salt intake. The odds ratio for reflux was 1.7 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.0) among those who always used extra table salt compared with those who never did so. We found moderately strong negative associations between the risk of reflux and exposure to coffee, bread high in dietary fibre content, and frequent physical exercise. Intake of alcohol or tea did not affect the risk of reflux. Tobacco smoking and table salt intake seem to be risk factors for gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms. Dietary fibres and physical exercise may protect against reflux. Alcohol, coffee, and tea do not seem to be risk factors for reflux.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Journal ID (nlm-ta): Gastroenterol Res Pract
                Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Gastroenterol Res Pract
                Journal ID (publisher-id): GRP
                Title: Gastroenterology Research and Practice
                Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
                ISSN (Print): 1687-6121
                ISSN (Electronic): 1687-630X
                Publication date (Print): 2013
                Publication date (Electronic): 24 February 2013
                Volume: 2013
                Electronic Location Identifier: 936792
                Affiliations
                1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tirana University, Tirana, Albania
                2Service of Gastro-Hepatology, Mother Theresa University Hospital Center, Rr. “Dibrës”, No. 371, Tirana, Albania
                3Department of International Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
                Author notes

                Academic Editor: P. Marco Fisichella

                Article
                DOI: 10.1155/2013/936792
                PMC ID: 3595718
                PubMed ID: 23509449
                SO-VID: e0f3fe3d-4d1a-410c-a4ae-5b337db859fb
                Copyright © Copyright © 2013 Lulzim Çela et al.
                License:

                This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                Date received : 15 December 2012
                Date accepted : 25 January 2013
                Categories
                Subject: Research Article

                ScienceOpen disciplines: Gastroenterology & Hepatology
                Data availability:
                ScienceOpen disciplines: Gastroenterology & Hepatology

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