Table 3.
Regional variation in the prevalence of reflux symptoms and symptom-defined gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
| Population | Reflux symptoms at least monthly n (%) |
Reflux symptoms at least weekly n (%) |
Symptom-defined GERDa n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai (n = 3151) | 338 (10.7) | 143 (4.5) | 84 (2.7) |
| Beijing (n = 3168) | 287 (9.1) | 120 (3.8) | 69 (2.2) |
| Wuhan (n = 3283) | 532 (16.2) | 245 (7.5) | 169 (5.1) |
| Xi'an (n = 3266) | 609 (18.6) | 218 (6.7) | 121 (3.7) |
| Guangzhou (n = 3210) | 271 (8.4) | 103 (3.2) | 53 (1.7) |
| Total (n = 16 078) | 2037 (12.7) | 829 (5.2) | 496 (3.1) |
aDefined as mild symptoms of heartburn and/or regurgitation occurring on at least 2 days a week (Reflux Disease Questionnaire [RDQ] item frequency score ≥3 for a severity score of ≥2), or moderate-to-severe symptoms of heartburn and/or regurgitation occurring on at least 1 day a week (RDQ item frequency score ≥2 for a severity score ≥3).