Introduction: GERD is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder with rising incidence in developing countries, including Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the association of demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors with the presence and severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among adults attending gastroenterology clinics in Zabol, eastern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 adult patients recruited from the Gastroenterology Clinic of Zabol Medical School, Iran, between March 2023 and February 2024. Data were collected through structured interviews using the validated Rome IV questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26, including descriptive statistics, chi-square and independent t-tests, and multivariate logistic regression. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of GERD was 15%. Among affected patients, 65% had mild, 18% moderate, and 17% severe symptoms. Lower academic education, chronic cough, and history of peptic ulcer disease were significantly associated with GERD occurrence and severity (P<0.05). Logistic regression identified low academic education (OR=2.14; 95% CI: 1.08–4.21), chronic cough (OR=3.56; 95% CI: 1.22–10.38), and peptic ulcer history (OR=2.98; 95% CI: 1.09–8.13) as independent predictors. Age, gender, and BMI showed no significant associations, while frequent consumption of fatty and salty foods demonstrated a borderline association (p ≈ 0.06). Conclusion: GERD prevalence in this clinical population was 15%. Low educational attainment, chronic cough, and peptic ulcer history were independent determinants of GERD, whereas demographic factors such as age and BMI were not. Targeted interventions addressing health literacy, diet, and comorbidity management may reduce GERD burden in similar populations.
Sheibak et al. (Wed,) studied this question.