Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: Prevalence, sociodemographics and treatment patterns in the adult Israeli population

Table 1 Frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms among the studied population

Frequency of heartburn events	No. of patients (%)
Daily	81 (4)
4-6 times/wk	32 (1.6)
2-3 times/wk	57 (2.8)
Once weekly	82 (4.1)
Once/2 wk	65 (3.2)
Once/mo	117 (5.8)
< Once/mo	145 (7.2)
Never	1448 (71.3)
Total	2027 (100)

Table 2 Frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms according to various demographic parameters

Parameter	No.	> 1/wk (%)	< 1/wk (%)	None (%)	P value
Gender
Male	967	12.4	16.1	71.5	0.1
Female	1060	12.5	16.4	71.1
Age (yr)
18-34	744	8.71	17.6	73.7	0.0002
35-54	677	12.2	16	71.8
> 55	606	17.21	15.2	67.6
Education
Basic	774	15.41	16.8	67.8	0.03
High school	417	12.2	18.9	68.9
Academic	836	9.51	16.7	73.8
Income (IS)
< 7000	855	17.81	19.4	62.9	0.008
7000-10 000	571	7.51	20	72.5
> 10 000	601	9.91	12.9	77.1
Ethnic origin
Oriental	585	16.81	15.2	68	0.003
Western	539	10	15.1	74.8
Israeli born	516	9.61	17.2	73.2
New immigrant	387	12.8	18.5	68.8
Number of family Members
1-2	702	14	16.7	69.3	0.56
3-4	730	12.1	16.5	71.4
≥ 5	595	11	18.4	70.6

¹Statistically significant.

Table 3 Type of treatment according to heartburn severity (More than one type may be used)

Type of treatment	High heartburn frequency > 1/wk	Low heartburn frequency < 1/wk	P value
	n = 253 (%)	n = 330 (%)
Proton pump inhibitors	50 (19.8)	22 (6.7)	< 0.001
H2 Blockers	33 (13)	24 (7.2)	0.02
Commercial antacids	89 (35.2)	71 (21.5)	< 0.001
Natural and traditional remedies (milk, almonds, ice cubes, etc.)	57 (22.5)	83 (25.2)	0.46
Analgesics	1 (0.4)	10 (3)	0.04
Prescription drugs (does not remember the name)	8 (3.2)	2 (0.6)	0.04
OTC (does not remember the name)	2 (0.8)	10 (3)	0.11
Other	27 (10.7)	31 (9.4)	0.6
Does not remember	14 (5.5)	13 (3.9)	0.36
Does not take any treatment	65 (25.7)	127 (38.5)	0.001