Abstract
Objective: The incidence of reflux esophagitis is increasing due to increased gastric acid output, a decreased Helicobacter pylori infection rate, increased interest in diseases, and westernization of lifestyles. Reflux esophagitis has been reported to lower the quality of life (QOL) due to the severity of symptoms. However, assessments of a relationship between reflux esophagitis and QOL have been mostly at the hospital level, and few studies have considered this in health check-ups. Therefore, we examined relationships between reflux esophagitis and gastrointestinal symptoms and QOL in health check-up examinees.
Methods: Our subjects were 366 individuals (207 men and 159 women, aged 33–81 years, mean age 58 ± 11 years) who underwent health check-ups. Relationships between reflux esophagitis and gastrointestinal symptoms and health-related QOL were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and Short Form-8 questionnaire, respectively.
Results: Reflux esophagitis was not necessarily associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and there was no clear association with reduced health-related QOL.
Conclusion: It is difficult to predict the presence of reflux esophagitis based solely on subjective symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to perform endoscopies with the possibility of reflux esophagitis in mind even in patients who do not complain of symptoms.
