Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux and its related factors in Sanandaj

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases and its prevalence rate in various countries, including Iran has been on the rise. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors and prevalence rate of this disease in Sanandaj.
In this descriptive, analytical study, 430 people were selected via random cluster sampling. Data were collected by carrying out interviews with the participants from May 2014 to June 2015. Using a questionnaire, we recorded data about the demographic characteristics, symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and risk factors for the disease. Then, we measured and recorded the participants’ blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI. People who had experienced episodes of mild symptoms of heartburn for two days or more in a week or experienced moderate to severe symptoms for more than once in a week were regarded as cases of reflux. Data analysis was performed by using STATA-11 software.
From 410 patients, 41% were male and 59% (241 persons) were female with the mean age of 37.75 years. The prevalence rate of gastroesophageal reflux in the study population was 30%. We found no statistically significant difference between the patients and healthy individuals in relation to the risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux.
Considering the high prevalence of GERD in Sanandaj, it is of great importance to provide necessary training about the risk factors, prevention, and appropriate treatment of the disease for the public.