Five-year Follow-up Study of Patients with Reflux Symptoms and Reflux Esophagitis in Annual Medical Check-up Field

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AIM: To clarify changes in the prevalence of reflux symptoms and reflux esophagitis over a period of 5 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five hundred thirty-nine study subjects (male: 408, mean age 47.3 years) were assessed using a reflux symptom questionnaire and endoscopic examinations conducted twice, 5 years apart. RESULTS: At enrollment, 88 patients had reflux symptoms and 44 had reflux esophagitis (RE). After 5 years, 58 and 53 patients were diagnosed as having reflux symptoms and RE, respectively. Only 26% of the patients with reflux symptoms at enrollment had the symptoms after 5 years. The presence of reflux symptoms and an increase of BMI were significant risk factors for the presence of reflux symptoms after 5 years. CONCLUSION: Reflux symptoms frequently disappear after 5 years. It is difficult to identify individuals who will still have symptoms after 5 years on the basis of clinical characteristics.