Prevalence, knowledge and care patterns for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in United States minority populations.

Authors

Elaine Yuen, Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Martha Romney, Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Richard W. Toner, Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Nicole M. Cobb, Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Philip O. Katz, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Thomas Jefferson University
Maya Spodik, Department of Gastroenterology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Neil I. Goldfarb, Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2010

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Volume 32, Issue 5, September 2010, Pages 645-654. The published version is available at DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04396.x.. Copyright © John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While there is evidence of ethnic variation in the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, few population-based studies examine GERD symptom prevalence amongst the growing Hispanic minority in the US as well as Asians in the West. AIM: To examine the prevalence, awareness and care patterns for GERD across different ethnic groups.

METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional survey was fielded in English, Chinese and Spanish that assessed self-reported GERD prevalence, awareness and care patterns in four ethnic groups (Caucasian, African American, Asian, Hispanic).

RESULTS: A total of 1172 subjects were included for analysis: 34.6% experienced GERD symptoms at least monthly, 26.2% at least weekly and 8.2% at least daily. Statistically significant differences in raw prevalence rates between racial groups were found: 50% of Hispanics experienced heartburn at least monthly, compared with 37% of Caucasians, 31% of African Americans and 20% of Asians (P > 0.0001). Significant differences in knowledge and care-seeking patterns by ethnicity were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high prevalence of GERD symptoms in the US and introduces Hispanics as the ethnicity with the highest prevalence rate. Asians in the US have higher rates of symptoms than in the Far East. These data demonstrate a need for culturally appropriate education about GERD symptoms and treatment.

Recommended Citation

Yuen, Elaine; Romney, Martha; Toner, Richard W.; Cobb, Nicole M.; Katz, Philip O.; Spodik, Maya; and Goldfarb, Neil I., "Prevalence, knowledge and care patterns for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in United States minority populations." (2010). College of Population Health Faculty Papers. Paper 42.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/healthpolicyfaculty/42