Brief Article
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2011; 17(41): 4614-4618
Published online Nov 7, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i41.4614
Comparison of presentation and impact on quality of life of gastroesophageal reflux disease between young and old adults in a Chinese population
Shou-Wu Lee, Chia-Ming Chang, Chi-Sen Chang, Ai-Wen Kao, Ming-Chih Chou
Shou-Wu Lee, Chi-Sen Chang, Ming-Chih Chou, Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40242, Taiwan, China
Shou-Wu Lee, Chi-Sen Chang, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 40242, Taiwan, China
Shou-Wu Lee, Chi-Sen Chang, Department of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40242, Taiwan, China
Chia-Ming Chang, Ai-Wen Kao, Institute of Gerontology, National Cheng Kang University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, China
Chia-Ming Chang, Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kang University Hospital, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, China
Ai-Wen Kao, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kang University Hospital, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: Lee SW and Chou MC contributed equally to this work; Lee SW, Chang CM and Chang CS designed the research; Lee SW and Chang CS performed the research; Kao AW and Chou MC contributed new reagents/analytic tools; Lee SW and Chang CM analyzed the data; and Lee SW, Chang CM and Chang CS wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Ming-Chih Chou, Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan 110, Section 1, Chien Kuo North Road, Taichung 40242, Taiwan, China. ericest429@yahoo.com.tw
Telephone: +886-4-23592525-3310 Fax: +886-4-23741331
Received: January 31, 2011
Revised: June 27, 2011
Accepted: August 3, 2011
Published online: November 7, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To compare the presentation and impact on quality of life of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in old and young age groups.

METHODS: Data from adult patients with GERD diagnosed by endoscopic and symptomic characteristics were collected between January and November 2009. Exclusion criteria included combined peptic ulcers, malignancy, prior surgery, antacid medication for more than 2 mo, and pregnancy. Enrolled patients were assigned to the elderly group if they were 65 years or older, or the younger group if they were under 65 years. They had completed the GERD impact scale, the Chinese GERD questionnaire, and the SF-36 questionnaire. Data from other cases without endoscopic findings or symptoms were collected and these subjects comprised the control group in our study.

RESULTS: There were 111 patients with GERD and 44 normal cases: 78 (70.3%) and 33 patients (29.7%) were in the younger and elderly groups, respectively. There were more female patients (60.3%) in the younger group, and more males (72.7%) in the elderly group. The younger cases had more severe and frequent typical symptoms than the elderly patients. Significantly more impairment of daily activities was noted in the younger patients compared with the elderly group, except for physical functioning.

CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with GERD were predominantly male with rare presentation of typical symptoms, and had less impaired quality of life compared with younger patients in a Chinese population.

Keywords: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Quality of life, Age factors