Table 1.
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics (N = 139)
| Characteristic | GER | No GER | Total | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean ± SD, y | 58.8 ± 12.1 | 58.2 ± 12.6 | 58.5 ± 12.37 | .89 |
| Female sex, No. (%) | 50 (79.4) | 55 (72.4) | 105 (75.5) | .69 |
| BMI, mean ± SD, kg/m2 | 35.2 ± 9.1 | 33.0 ± 9.2 | 34.0 ± 8.26 | .38 |
| Coexisting diseases, No. (%) | ||||
| Obesity | 43 (68.3) | 49 (64.5) | 92 (66.2) | .72 |
| Asthma | 29 (46.0) | 35 (46.1) | 64 (46.0) | .94 |
| OSA | 19 (30.2) | 30 (39.5) | 49 (35.2) | .29 |
| COPD | 12 (19.0) | 6 (7.9) | 18 (12.9) | .32 |
| Relapsing polychondritis | 2 (3.2) | 4 (5.3) | 6 (4.3) | .69 |
| GERD symptoms, No. (%) | ||||
| Heartburn | 33 (52.4) | 23 (30.3) | 56 (40.3) | .010 |
| Regurgitation | 22 (34.9) | 10 (13.2) | 32 (23.0) | .004 |
GER = gastroesophageal reflux; GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease.