Resumen

VEITIA, G et al. Prevalencia de enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico en población adulta del área metropolitana de Caracas Venezuela. Gen [online]. 2008, vol.62, n.2, pp.109-113. ISSN 0016-3503.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the gastrointestinals problems with higher prevalence; it affects 10 to 15% of the general population being a frequent cause of medical visit. Nevertheless, there is low number of reports about GERD prevalence. Objectives: to determine GERD prevalence in adult population of the Caracas Metropolitan Area and study some related factors to this disease. Materials and methods: Study of transversal cut, made in adult population in Caracas Metropolitan Area in April 2007. A poll based in clinical and epidemiological criteria in accordance with a Latin- American and European consensus about GERD was used. To analize the results averages, medians and percentages were calculated. Results: of 389 subjects surveyed, 223 were women (57,3%) and 166 were men (42,7%). The mean age of the patients was 33 years old. The cardinals symptoms prevalence was 19,02%. In subjects with GERD we found that 47,3% drank alcohol at least once a week, and 21,6% were smokers. In Conclusion, we found that GERD prevalence in adult population of the Caracas Metropolitan Area was 19, 02% finding a relationship with alcoholic habit.

Palabras clave : Gastroesophageal reflux diseases; prevalence; clinical epidemiology.