Prevalence of common upper gastrointestinal diseases in Chinese adults aged 18-64 years

To investigate the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), reflux esophagitis (RE), digestive ulcer gastric ulcer (GU), duodenal ulcer (DU), and Helicobacter pylori infection in Chinese adults aged 18-64 years and their associated factors, a community-based cross-sectional study using a stratified multistage sampling method was conducted. A standardized questionnaire survey, the ¹³C-urea breath test, and gastroscopy were performed. Weighted methods were used to estimate the prevalence of diseases or infection mentioned above and their risk factors. Finally, 27,637 participants aged 18-64 years were enrolled from 2017 to 2018. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of GERD, RE, GU, DU, and H. pylori infection was estimated to be 10.5% (7.8%-14.2%), 5.4% (3.9%-7.3%), 2.5% (1.7%-3.7%), 4.5% (3.6%-5.4%), and 41.5% (36.7%-46.4%), respectively. The fraction of H. pylori infection reached 58.6% and 61.1% among the GU and DU patients, respectively. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models showed that GERD, RE, and GU shared the common risk factors of age and obesity. Dose-response relationships were observed between smoking and all four diseases, as well as alcohol consumption and GERD and H. pylori infection. Northwest China had the highest prevalence of GERD (23.9%), RE (8.7%), GU (7.8%), DU (7.3%), and H. pylori infection (63.6%); however, the southwest region had the highest prevalence of GU but the lowest of DU, RE, and H. pylori infection. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were positively associated with GERD risk. On the contrary, a reduced risk of GU was observed among H. pylori-infected patients taking this drug. In summary, the prevalence of GERD, RE, and H. pylori infection still appears high in China. H. pylori infection eradication remains the priority to reduce the burden of peptic ulcer disease. The aging population, high prevalence of overweight or obesity, smoking, and drinking in China could explain the high burden of these diseases, thus suggesting the targeted preventive measures for upper gastrointestinal diseases in the future.