Gastroesophageal reflux disease and its related factors among women of reproductive age: Korea Nurses' Health Study.
BACKGROUND
Recently, the number of patients diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has increased in Korea. Risk factors of GERD include age, sex, medication use, lack of physical exercise, increased psychological stress, low or high body mass index (BMI), unhealthy eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking. However, few studies examined the major factors affecting GERD in women of childbearing age. Therefore, this study assessed the risk factors of GERD among 20,613 female nurses of reproductive age using data from the Korea Nurses' Health Study.


METHODS
Participants were recruited from July 2013 to November 2014. They provided their history of GERD 1 year prior to data collection, along with information on their demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, diet, medical history, and physical and psychological factors. Of the total sample, 1184 individuals with GERD diagnosed in the year prior to the study were identified. Propensity score matching was used for analysis.


RESULTS
Cigarette smoking, increased alcohol consumption, low or high BMI, depression, and increased psychosocial stress were associated with the prevalence of GERD among Korean young women. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed significant positive relationships between GERD and being a former smoker; having a low (< 18.5 kg/m2) or high BMI (> 23 kg/m2); and having mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking, BMI, and depression were associated with GERD. To reduce this risk among female nurses, intervention strategies are required to help nurses maintain a normal weight and manage their depression.
['Kim|Oksoo|O|', 'Jang|Hee Jung|HJ|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5764-0020', 'Kim|Sue|S|', 'Lee|Hea-Young|HY|', 'Cho|Eunyoung|E|', 'Lee|Jung Eun|JE|', 'Jung|Heeja|H|', 'Kim|Jiyoung|J|']
D000328:Adult D015992:Body Mass Index D003863:Depression D005260:Female D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux D006306:Health Surveys D006801:Humans D008875:Middle Aged D009726:Nurses D056910:Republic of Korea D012307:Risk Factors D012907:Smoking D055815:Young Adult
Gastroesophageal reflux Reproductive age Nurses Body mass index Depression