What percentage of population of Azerbaijan suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Many people have occasional complaints of a bitter taste in the mouth, stomach acid, heartburn, and belching. Since it does not affect their quality of life, people get used to these temporary discomforts or avoid them by dieting. However, in some cases, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can lead to severe complaints and life-threatening situations. In these cases, help of gastroenterologists is needed.

Report informs that Sevda Aghayeva, a gastroenterologist at the Central Branch of Baku Medical Plaza, is the first doctor to investigate the frequency of reflux disease in Azerbaijan.

The results of her research will soon be published in Türkiye's most famous gastroenterology journal.

Aghayeva explained the mechanism of gastroesophageal reflux disease and shared the research results.

GERD is one of the most common chronic diseases - a process caused by various environmental, dietary, genetic, and stress-related factors. Reflux disease is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backward from the stomach into the esophagus (food tube). Weak lower esophageal sphincter, drugs that cause it, hiatal hernia, and pregnancy are risk factors for reflux disease.

The national cuisine of Azerbaijan, which is rich in tasty but fatty foods, the use of hot drinks, the predominance of fast food in recent times, the increase in average weight, the high frequency of bad habits, and stress factors are the main aspects for the spread of GERD.

Our research is the first population-based prevalence study published among Caucasian countries, where the main objective is to investigate the incidence, identify risk factors and prevent the problem.

The research was conducted based on a special survey and 22.7% of the general population was diagnosed with GERD, which means that about one in four people suffer from occasional reflux diseases. The overall prevalence is higher in women than in men.

Another factor that impacts the prevalence of GERD is body mass index. In a study, reflux symptoms are more common in overweight and obese people than in people in the normal weight range. Interestingly, in the group of underweight people, there is a preponderance of those diagnosed with GERD. First-degree relatives of those with reflux disease were 9 times more likely to have similar symptoms than those without reflux patients in the family. Education level and employment status did not affect the prevalence of the disease. Marital status information influenced the frequency of symptoms between groups and is shown below. The group where GERD was least common was observed among single people and most often among divorced and widowed people. This can be related to their older age and more co-morbidities. Basically, the stress level also had a significant effect on GERD distribution.

The results we saw in Azerbaijan were similar to GERD rates studied in neighboring regions, for example, in Türkiye, it was 22.8% of the population, in Russia 23.6%, and in Iran 28%.

Azerbaijan is located in an interesting region at the junction of Europe and Asia, which combines different cultures and has unique cuisine and traditions. The health of the esophagus directly depends on the diet and food quality. Proper nutrition, avoiding foods that irritate and increase stomach acidity, hot drinks, and tobacco products are the main prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Regulation of body weight, constant physical activity, and avoiding stress are the foundations of a healthy lifestyle.