03273nas a2200229   4500008004100000245015000041210006900191300000800260490000700268520247100275100002202746700002102768700002502789700002102814700001902835700002402854700002002878700002002898700002002918700002302938856008202961       2018                        eng d00aGastroesophageal reflux symptoms among Italian university students: epidemiology and dietary correlates using automatically recorded transactions0 aGastroesophageal reflux symptoms among Italian university studen  a1160 v183 aBackground: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders
worldwide, with relevant impact on the quality of life and health care costs.The aim of our study is to assess the
prevalence of GERD based on self-reported symptoms among university students in central Italy. The secondary aim is
to evaluate lifestyle correlates, particularly eating habits, in GERD students using automatically recorded transactions
through cashiers at university canteen.
Methods: A web-survey was created and launched through an app, ad-hoc developed for an interactive exchange of
information with students, including anthropometric data and lifestyle habits. Moreover, the web-survey allowed
users a self-diagnosis of GERD through a simple questionnaire. As regard eating habits, detailed collection of meals
consumed, including number and type of dishes, were automatically recorded through cashiers at the university
canteen equipped with an automatic registration system.
Results: We collected 3012 questionnaires. A total of 792 students (26.2% of the respondents) reported typical GERD
symptoms occurring at least weekly. Female sex was more prevalent than male sex. In the set of students with GERD,
the percentage of smokers was higher, and our results showed that when BMI tends to higher values the percentage
of students with GERD tends to increase. When evaluating correlates with diet, we found, among all users, a lower
frequency of legumes choice in GERD students and, among frequent users, a lower frequency of choice of pasta and
rice in GERD students.
Discussion: The results of our study are in line with the values reported in the literature. Nowadays, GERD is a common
problem in our communities, and can potentially lead to serious medical complications; the economic burden
involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of the disease has a relevant impact on healthcare costs.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the prevalence of typical GERD–related symptoms
in a young population of University students in Italy. Considering the young age of enrolled subjects, our prevalence
rate, relatively high compared to the usual estimates, could represent a further negative factor for the future
economic sustainability of the healthcare system.
Keywords: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD, Heartburn, Regurgitation, Diet, Prevalence, University students1 aMartinucci, Irene1 aNatilli, Michela1 aLorenzoni, Valentina1 aPappalardo, Luca1 aMonreale, Anna1 aTurchetti, Giuseppe1 aPedreschi, Dino1 aMarchi, Santino1 aBarale, Roberto1 ade Bortoli, Nicola  uhttps://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12876-018-0832-9