Table 2.
Multivariate analyses of the associations between frequency of GERDa symptoms and BE
| Frequency of GERD symptoms |
BE cases, n (%) |
Primary-care controls, n (%) |
ORb (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ever | ||||
| No | 41 (17.4) | 241 (53.9) | 1.00 | (Ref) |
| Yes | 195 (82.6) | 206 (46.1) | 5.70 | (3.86, 8.42) |
| At age 10–19 years | ||||
| Never symptoms | 41 (17.4) | 241 (53.9) | 1.00 | (Ref) |
| ≥1 time per month | 7 (3.0) | 0 (0.0) | — | — |
| 1 time per week | 5 (2.1) | 0 (0.0) | — | — |
| >1 time per week | 10 (4.2) | 3 (0.7) | 20.3 | (5.28, 78.0) |
| No symptomsc | 173 (73.3) | 203 (45.4) | 5.14 | (3.47, 7.61) |
| At age 20–29 years | ||||
| Never symptoms | 41 (17.4) | 241 (53.9) | 1.00 | (Ref) |
| ≥1 time per month | 9 (3.8) | 8 (1.8) | 7.07 | (2.53, 19.8) |
| 1 time per week | 12 (5.1) | 8 (1.8) | 8.32 | (3.19, 21.7) |
| >1 time per week | 30 (12.7) | 9 (2.0) | 20.7 | (9.03, 47.3) |
| No symptomsc | 144 (61.0) | 181 (40.5) | 4.79 | (3.20, 7.16) |
| At age 30–49 years | ||||
| Never symptoms | 41 (17.4) | 241 (53.9) | 1.00 | (Ref) |
| ≥1 time per month | 18 (7.6) | 34 (7.6) | 3.29 | (1.69, 6.42) |
| 1 time per week | 25 (10.6) | 26 (5.8) | 6.17 | (3.20, 11.9) |
| > 1 time per week | 94 (39.8) | 59 (13.2) | 10.4 | (6.38, 16.8) |
| No symptomsc | 58 (24.6) | 87 (19.5) | 3.85 | (2.39, 6.18) |
| At age 50–79 years | ||||
| Never symptoms | 41 (17.4) | 241 (53.9) | 1.00 | (Ref) |
| ≥1 time per month | 20 (8.5) | 49 (11.0) | 2.41 | (1.30, 4.48) |
| 1 time per week | 29 (12.3) | 37 (8.3) | 4.79 | (2.64, 8.71) |
| >1 time per week | 109 (46.2) | 94 (21.0) | 7.14 | (4.60, 11.1) |
| No symptomsc | 37 (15.7) | 26 (5.8) | 8.82 | (4.66, 16.7) |
| 10 years before diagnosis | ||||
| Never symptoms | 41 (17.4) | 241 (53.9) | 1.00 | (Ref) |
| ≥1 time per month | 19 (8.0) | 46 (10.3) | 2.43 | (1.29, 4.57) |
| 1 time per week | 30 (12.7) | 33 (7.4) | 5.54 | (3.03, 10.1) |
| >1 time per week | 122 (51.7) | 100 (22.4) | 7.50 | (4.87, 11.6) |
| No symptomsc | 24 (10.2) | 27 (6.0) | 5.44 | (2.83, 10.4) |
| Frequency of GERD and age at onset | ||||
| Never symptoms | 41 (17.4) | 241 (53.9) | 1.00 | (Ref) |
| ≥Weekly age <30 years | 45 (19.1) | 18 (4.0) | 15.1 | (7.91, 28.8) |
| ≥Weekly age 30–49 years | 74 (31.4) | 69 (15.4) | 6.87 | (4.22, 11.2) |
| ≥Weekly age 50–79 years | 58 (24.6) | 72 (16.1) | 4.73 | (2.91, 7.67) |
| <Weekly age <30 years | 5 (2.1) | 6 (1.3) | 5.17 | (1.48, 18.1) |
| <Weekly age 30–49 years | 6 (2.5) | 21 (4.7) | 1.73 | (0.65, 4.58) |
| <Weekly age 50–79 years | 7 (3.0) | 20 (4.5) | 2.04 | (0.80, 5.18) |
BE, Barrett’s esophagus; CI, confidence interval; GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; OR, odds ratio.
a
Highest reported symptoms of either heartburn or acid regurgitation.
b
Adjusted for age, sex, highest level of education, cumulative smoking history, body mass index, alcohol intake, and use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
c
Symptoms were present at other age intervals.