Onset and disappearance of reflux symptoms in a Chinese population: a 1‐year follow‐up study

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Abstract
Summary: Background : The natural history of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease in Asian population has not been studied before.Aim : To study the onset and disappearances of reflux symptoms over a 1‐year period in the Chinese population.Methods : A population‐based telephone survey was performed in 2002 and repeated 1 year later. The change in prevalence rate, onset and disappearance of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, and the change in diagnoses were assessed. Factors associated with the onset and disappearance of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease were studied.Results : A total of 712 subjects completed the first and second survey. The annual, monthly and weekly prevalence of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease were 34.1%, 10.1% and 2.7% respectively. The onset rate (per 1000 person‐year) and disappearance rate of any gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and frequent gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (≥ monthly symptoms) were 209, 40; and 395, 243 respectively. Forty‐four percentage of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease subjects changed their diagnoses in 2003. By multiple logistic regression analysis, high anxiety score (OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.2) and higher educational level (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3–6.3) were associated with the onset of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease; while the frequency of acid regurgitation (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17–0.70) and use of antisecretory therapy (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28–0.89) were associated with the disappearance of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease.Conclusion : The prevalence of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease is stable over 1 year. Higher anxiety score and higher educational level were associated with the onset of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, while lower frequency of reflux symptoms and infrequent use of antisecretory therapy were associated with the disappearance of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease in a Chinese population.