Prevalence and Determinants of Gastro‐Esophageal Reflux Disease Among Medical Students: A Cross‐Sectional Study From Pakistan
4 affiliations
- 1Foundation University Medical College Islamabad Pakistan
- 2Rawalpindi Medical University Rawalpindi Pakistan
- 3Nishtar Medical University Multan Pakistan
- 4Makerere University College of Health Sciences Kampala Central Region Uganda
Abstract
Background and Aims: Gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD) significantly impacts the quality of life and has shown increasing prevalence globally. Despite its increasing burden, limited data is available on medical students who are at higher risk due to lifestyle habits such as irregular eating patterns and stress. This study aimed to assess the association between lifestyle factors, perceived stress and GERD.
Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 242 (CI: 95%; ERR: 5%), using the Cochran formula. Convenience sampling was used, and a structured questionnaire was distributed in November 2024 to inquire about demographics, risk factors, probable GERD (GERDQ), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10). Participants were categorized as follows: GERD: cutoff ≥ 8; stress: low (0–13), moderate (14–26), high (27–40). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of GERD, with reporting of odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.
Result: Out of the 249 responses received, 212(85.1%) were female, and 189(75.9%) had a healthy BMI (18–25 kg/m2). The calculated GERD prevalence was 20.5% (n = 51), whereas 31 (12.4%) participants reported high levels of perceived stress. In bivariate analysis, GERD and midnight snacking (p = 0.007), mode of exercise (p = 0.034), and perceived stress (p = 0.025) were significant. In the multivariate analysis, only midnight snacking (AOR = 7.62, 95% CI: 1.60–36.21) and mode of exercise (AOR = 3.997, 95% CI: 1.53–10.46) remained statistically significant.
Conclusion: Midnight snacking and exercise patterns are significant predictors of GERD. These findings suggest that lifestyle behavior contributes to the disease symptoms, and future longitudinal studies may benefit from evaluating the effectiveness of interventions targeting these factors, such as stress management programs/support groups, lifestyle modifications and disease‐related awareness.
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BibTeX
@article{masood2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and Determinants of Gastro‐Esophageal Reflux Disease Among Medical Students: A Cross‐Sectional Study From Pakistan}},
author = {Easha Masood and Sana Fatima and Rumman Ashraf and Muddassir Khalid and Fatima Tul‐Zahra and Mishaal Zarar and Sumia Fatima and Fred Segawa},
journal = {Health science reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/hsr2.73459},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13723307},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence and Determinants of Gastro‐Esophageal Reflux Disease Among Medical Students: A Cross‐Sectional Study From Pakistan
AU - Easha Masood
AU - Sana Fatima
AU - Rumman Ashraf
AU - Muddassir Khalid
AU - Fatima Tul‐Zahra
AU - Mishaal Zarar
AU - Sumia Fatima
AU - Fred Segawa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/31
JO - Health science reports
DO - 10.1002/hsr2.73459
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13723307
AB - Background and Aims: Gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD) significantly impacts the quality of life and has shown increasing prevalence globally. Despite its increasing burden, limited data is available on medical students who are at higher risk due to lifestyle habits such as irregular eating patterns and stress. This study aimed to assess the association between lifestyle factors, perceived stress and GERD. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 242 (CI: 95%; ERR: 5%), using the Cochran formula. Convenience sampling was used, and a structured questionnaire was distributed in November 2024 to inquire about demographics, risk factors, probable GERD (GERDQ), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10). Participants were categorized as follows: GERD: cutoff ≥ 8; stress: low (0–13), moderate (14–26), high (27–40). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of GERD, with reporting of odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Result: Out of the 249 responses received, 212(85.1%) were female, and 189(75.9%) had a healthy BMI (18–25 kg/m2). The calculated GERD prevalence was 20.5% (n = 51), whereas 31 (12.4%) participants reported high levels of perceived stress. In bivariate analysis, GERD and midnight snacking (p = 0.007), mode of exercise (p = 0.034), and perceived stress (p = 0.025) were significant. In the multivariate analysis, only midnight snacking (AOR = 7.62, 95% CI: 1.60–36.21) and mode of exercise (AOR = 3.997, 95% CI: 1.53–10.46) remained statistically significant. Conclusion: Midnight snacking and exercise patterns are significant predictors of GERD. These findings suggest that lifestyle behavior contributes to the disease symptoms, and future longitudinal studies may benefit from evaluating the effectiveness of interventions targeting these factors, such as stress management programs/support groups, lifestyle modifications and disease‐related awareness.
SN - 2398-8835
ER -