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Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) among diabetic patients and to investigate GERD’s potential association with diabetic complications, and patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: This cross-sectional study used the GERD questionnaire (GerdQ) in 403 diabetic patients attending the outpatient clinics at King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University; a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and February 2019. On the basis of a cutoff GerdQ score of 8, we distinguished GERD and non-GERD groups. Results: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease prevalence was 44.9%. Of the diabetic patients with GERD, 76.8% were female ( p <0.001). Gastro-esophageal reflux disease patients were older (mean age: 55.27, p =0.038) and had a slightly higher body mass index (BMI) than non-GERD (32.04 versus, 30.20 p =0.006), respectively. Smokers in the GERD group were 1.7% versus 7.2% in the non-GERD group ( p =0.007). Peripheral numbness ( p =0.023) and nephropathy ( p =0.041) were more prevalent in patients with GERD, while myocardial infarction was more prevalent in non-GERD subjects ( p =0.038). On multi variable analysis, the only independent GERD risk factors were female gender ( p =0.013) and age >65 years ( p =0.007). Conclusion: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease prevalence in diabetic patients was 45%. Diabetic patients with GERD were more often female and older >65 years. None of the other tested factors (BMI, smoking status, diabetes mellitus duration, therapeutic plan, or diabetic complications) showed significant difference between GERD and non-GERD groups.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

151

Last Page

156

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