Burden of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Shanghai, China

Data on the impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in Asian countries are scarce.

This study evaluated the impact of GERD on HRQL in Shanghai, China.

One thousand two hundred adult inhabitants of Shanghai, selected using randomized cluster sampling.

Participants completed Mandarin versions of the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ), GERD impact scale, quality of life in reflux and dyspepsia (QOLRAD) questionnaire and short-form-36 (SF-36). GERD was defined as heartburn and/or regurgitation of any frequency during the 1-week recall period of the RDQ. A clinically meaningful impairment of HRQL was defined as a statistically significant decrease of >or=0.5 points in a QOLRAD dimension or >or=5 points in an SF-36 dimension.

Overall, 1034 subjects completed the survey (86.2% response rate); 919 responses were suitable for analysis. The prevalence of GERD was 6.2%. GERD was associated with meaningfully impaired HRQL in the QOLRAD dimensions of vitality, eating/drinking and emotional well-being, but not sleep or physical/social functioning, and in all SF-36 dimensions except social functioning. Respondents with GERD experienced eating and drinking problems (47%), sleep impairment (32%) and reduced work productivity (32%).

GERD has a clinically meaningful impact on HRQL in Shanghai, China.