A 13-NATION POPULATION SURVEY OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS: PREVALENCE OF SYMPTOMS AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS

Sebastian Haag (1) , Jane M Andrews (2) , Judith Gapasin (2, 3) , Andreas Keller (4) , Gerald J Holtmann (5, 6)

1 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
2 Gastroenterology and Hepatology
3 Institute of Digestive Diseases
4 Nycomed International
5 AöR - University Hospital Essen
6 RAH, Department of Gastroenterology

Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms in 13 European countries and the association between socioeconomic factors and symptoms using a standardised method. Methods: A representative age- and gender stratified sample of 23.110 subjects (aged 18-69 years) was surveyed. Results: The prevalence of UGI symptoms was 38%. UGI symptoms were most prevalent in Hungary (45.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 42.2-48.4) and lowest in the Netherlands (23.6%, 95%CI 21.0-26.2). UGI symptoms were more prevalent in females (39%, 95%CI 38.4-39.6) vs. males (37%, 95%CI 36.4-37.6). Heartburn (24%, 95%CI 23.4-24.6) and acidic reflux (14%, 95%CI 13.6-14.4) were most common. With age, the prevalence of UGI symptoms decreased (e.g. 18-29 yrs: 42.8%, 95%CI 41.4-44.3 vs. 50-69yrs: 33.4%, 95%CI 32.3-34.4); in contrast, the frequency of symptom episodes/year increased with age (e.g. 18-29yrs: 11.3 episodes per years, 95%CI 10.5-12.1 vs. 50-69 yrs: 21.8, 95%CI 20.7-22.9). Socioeconomic status as measured by gross domestic product was inversely associated with symptoms and in total, socioeconomic factors, gender, body mass index, smoking habits and alcohol consumption explained 83.4% of the variance of UGI symptoms. Conclusions: There are marked differences in the country specific prevalence of UGI complaints. Socioeconomic factors are closely associated with the prevalence of UGI symptoms.

Mots clés: Medicine

Sebastian Haag, Jane M Andrews, Judith Gapasin, Andreas Keller, Gerald J Holtmann. A 13-NATION POPULATION SURVEY OF UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS: PREVALENCE OF SYMPTOMS AND SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2011, 33 (6), pp.722. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04564.x⟩. ⟨hal-00605961⟩