Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and associated risk factors among medical students in the MENA region: a multinational cross-sectional study
Abstract
We aimed to assess the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among medical students in Middle East countries and its associated risk factors. A multinational cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in 8 Middle East countries. GERDQ and GERD-HRQL were used to assess the prevalence of GERD and its HRQL, while DASS-21 was used to assess psychological conditions. A multivariate linear regression model and a multivariate logistic regression model were used to assess the risk factors for GERD and confounders that affect GERD-HRQL. 5994 participants participated in the study, with a mean age of 22.8 ± 2.4, and 58.59% were female. The prevalence of GERD was estimated to be 37.2% (30% had a 79% likelihood of having GERD, and 7.2% had an 89% likelihood of having GERD). Egyptian medical students, followed by Saudi Arabian students, had the highest prevalence, while Palestinian were the lowest. Increasing age and male gender were associated with increased GERD levels. Having coffee or spicy food was associated with increased GERD; coffee drinking was associated with its reduction, while psychological conditions or other eating behaviors were not contributors to an increase in GERD level. Several studies are needed to further assess the association between GERD and risk factors affecting its increase.
Related
- Prevalence of Tobacco Smoking and Associated Factors Among High School Students in Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study
- Prevalence and factors associated with social media addiction among undergraduate students from selected districts of Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study.
- Prevalence, characteristics, and determinants of chest pain among physicians in the Middle East and North Africa: A multinational cross-sectional study
- Knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy among medical students and internship doctors: a multinational cross-sectional study in Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Libya.
- Prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate health professions students in Borama, Somaliland: a cross-sectional study.
BibTeX
@article{hagag2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and associated risk factors among medical students in the MENA region: a multinational cross-sectional study}},
author = {Abdelmonam M. Hagag and Omar A. Ghanem and Salma Adel Ezzat and Ahmed Hany Shehata and Ayoub Akwaisah and Gannah S. El Labban and Ayoup Ahmed Radi and Mazin Abdelgadir and Gsemallah Abdo Ahmed and Daher Heib and Talal Abo Mosali and Ahmed M. Al-labban and Omayma Benbrik and Ahmed I. Elagrody},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-70857-z},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-70857-z},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and associated risk factors among medical students in the MENA region: a multinational cross-sectional study
AU - Abdelmonam M. Hagag
AU - Omar A. Ghanem
AU - Salma Adel Ezzat
AU - Ahmed Hany Shehata
AU - Ayoub Akwaisah
AU - Gannah S. El Labban
AU - Ayoup Ahmed Radi
AU - Mazin Abdelgadir
AU - Gsemallah Abdo Ahmed
AU - Daher Heib
AU - Talal Abo Mosali
AU - Ahmed M. Al-labban
AU - Omayma Benbrik
AU - Ahmed I. Elagrody
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/03
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-70857-z
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-70857-z
AB - We aimed to assess the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) among medical students in Middle East countries and its associated risk factors. A multinational cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in 8 Middle East countries. GERDQ and GERD-HRQL were used to assess the prevalence of GERD and its HRQL, while DASS-21 was used to assess psychological conditions. A multivariate linear regression model and a multivariate logistic regression model were used to assess the risk factors for GERD and confounders that affect GERD-HRQL. 5994 participants participated in the study, with a mean age of 22.8 ± 2.4, and 58.59% were female. The prevalence of GERD was estimated to be 37.2% (30% had a 79% likelihood of having GERD, and 7.2% had an 89% likelihood of having GERD). Egyptian medical students, followed by Saudi Arabian students, had the highest prevalence, while Palestinian were the lowest. Increasing age and male gender were associated with increased GERD levels. Having coffee or spicy food was associated with increased GERD; coffee drinking was associated with its reduction, while psychological conditions or other eating behaviors were not contributors to an increase in GERD level. Several studies are needed to further assess the association between GERD and risk factors affecting its increase.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -