Table 1. Population characteristics and factors associated with gastrointestinal symptom presence.
| Respondents with gastrointestinal symptoms | Respondents without gastrointestinal symptoms | Unadjusted OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI) | |
| n/N | n/N | |||
| Mean age (±SD) | 48.9 (16) | 50.2 (16) | – | – |
| ≥65 years (%) | 747/4,300 (17) | 2,451/12,389 (20) | 0.85 (0.78–0.93) | 0.75 (0.65–0.87) |
| Female (%) | 2,784/4,217 (66) | 6,448/12,079 (53) | 1.70 (1.58–1.83) | 1.59 (1.43–1.77) |
| Body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 (%) | 2,067/4,224 (49) | 5,549/12,213 (45) | 1.15 (1.07–1.23) | 1.02 (0.92–1.13) |
| Smoking (%) | 840/4,247 (20) | 2,089/12,242 (17) | 1.20 (1.10–1.31) | 1.12 (0.98–1.27) |
| Excessive alcohol consumption* (%) | 394/2,919 (14) | 1,229/9,266 (13) | 1.02 (0.90–1.15) | 0.93 (0.81–1.07) |
| Excessive coffee consumption† (%) | 352/3,612 (10) | 1,241/10,828 (12) | 0.83 (0.74–0.95) | 0.87 (0.74–1.02) |
| Co-morbidity (%) | ||||
| Diabetes mellitus | 238/4,315 (6) | 639/12,443 (5) | 1.08 (0.93–1.26) | 0.85 (0.64–1.13) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 316/4,315 (7) | 457/12,443 (4) | 2.07 (1.79–2.40) | 1.27 (0.99–1.62) |
| Asthma/COPD | 393/4,315 (9) | 651/12,443 (5) | 1.82 (1.59–2.07) | 1.47 (1.21–1.79) |
| Medication use | ||||
| PPIs§ | 1,161/4,315 (27) | 610/12,443 (5) | 7.14 (6.43–7.94) | 9.28 (7.91–10.9) |
| H2RAs** | 212/4,315 (5) | 75/12,443 (1) | 8.52 (6.53–11.1) | 9.93 (6.72–14.7) |
| Antacids | 588/4,315 (14) | 437/12,443 (4) | 4.33 (3.81–4.93) | 4.22 (3.53–5.05) |
| Paracetamol | 2,529/4,315 (59) | 5,763/12,443 (46) | 1.64 (1.53–1.76) | 1.33 (1.20–1.47) |
| NSAIDs¶ | 1,076/4,315 (25) | 2,157/12,443 (17) | 1.58 (1.46–1.72) | 1.02 (0.90–1.15) |
| Antiplatelet therapy# | 462/4,315 (11) | 1,221/12,443 (10) | 1.10 (0.98–1.23) | 1.08 (0.89–1.30) |
| Antidepressants | 278/4,315 (6) | 423/12,443 (3) | 1.96 (1.68–2.29) | 1.56 (1.22–2.00) |
| Statins | 435/4,315 (10) | 1,285/12,443 (10) | 0.97 (0.87–1.09) | 0.75 (0.61–0.93) |
| Oral contraceptives | 339/4,315 (8) | 716/12,443 (6) | 1.40 (1.22–1.60) | 1.22 (0.99–1.51) |
| Beta blockers | 487/4,315 (11) | 1,286/12,443 10) | 1.10 (0.99–1.23) | 0.87 (0.71–1.06) |
| ACE-inhibitors | 227/4,315 (5) | 727/12,443 (6) | 0.90 (0.77–1.04) | 0.81 (0.62–1.06) |
| Angiotensin-receptor antagonist | 186/4,315 (4) | 517/12,443 (4) | 1.04 (0.88–1.23) | 0.77 (0.58–1.03) |
| Diuretics | 390/4,315 (9) | 1,052/12,443 (9) | 1.08 (0.95–1.22) | 0.85 (0.68–1.06) |
N/D = not determined.
*
Excessive alcohol consumption is 14 units or more a week for women and 21 units or more a week for men.
†
Excessive coffee consumption was defined as 42 cups a week and more.
§
PPI: proton pump inhibitor.
**
H2RA: histamine-2 receptor antagonist.
¶
NSAIDs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
#
Antiplatelet therapy: low-dose acetylsalicylic acid, carbasalate calcium, clopidogrel and dipyridamol are taken together.