Self-management and help-seeking behavior for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: A population-based survey

Table 1 Multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluating the association between having gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics, n (%)

	Participants with GERS (n = 1572, 48.9%)1	Participants without GERS (n = 1584, 49.3%)1	Participants with GERS vs participants without GERS, OR (95%CI)
Age, years2
18-34	224 (14.8)	300 (19.8)	Reference category
35-54	461 (30.4)	447 (29.5)	0.896 (0.425-1.889)
55-75	832 (54.8)	768 (50.7)	0.534 (0.256-1.114)
Gender2
Female or non-binary	783 (51.6)	726 (47.9)	Reference category
Male	734 (48.4)	789 (52.1)	0.720 (0.509-1.019)
Educational level3
Lower	292 (19.3)	243 (16.1)	Reference category
Middle	535 (35.3)	525 (34.7)	0.964 (0.607-1.531)
Higher	689 (45.4)	746 (49.3)	0.888 (0.565-1.396)
Civil status3
Living without a partner	343 (22.6)	417 (27.5)	Reference category
Living with a partner	1173 (77.4)	1097 (72.5)	1.292 (0.864-1.933)
Migration background3
Dutch background	1417 (93.5)	1439 (95.0)
Western or non-Western background	99 (6.5)	75 (5.0)
Waist circumference (cm)4,5
Normal waist circumference	456 (56.4)	569 (70.8)	Reference category
Increased waist circumference	353 (43.6)	235 (29.2)	1.513 (1.068-2.141)
Smoking behavior (pack-years), median (IQR)6	9.0 (17.00)	7.5 (13.50)	1.011 (0.998-1.023)
Alcohol consumption (units per week)7
< 7	957 (73.3)	980 (75.0)
≥ 7	349 (26.7)	326 (25.0)
Hypertension8
No	1185 (78.7)	1273 (84.6)	Reference category
Yes	321 (21.3)	232 (15.4)	1.174 (0.753-1.832)
Diabetes9
No	1405 (93.3)	1446 (96.2)	Reference category
Yes	101 (6.7)	57 (3.8)	0.853 (0.431-1.689)
Hypercholesterolemia10
No	1208 (80.3)	1309 (87.1)	Reference category
Yes	297 (19.7)	194 (12.9)	1.694 (1.051-2.731)
Family history of esophageal cancer11
No or unknown	940 (82.1)	1047 (87.3)	Reference category
Yes	205 (17.9)	152 (12.7)	0.870 (0.552-1.372)

¹n = 58 missing values (1.8%).

²n = 182 missing values (5.7%).

³n = 184 missing values (5.7%).

⁴Increased waist circumference according to Dutch Heart Foundation (female > 88 cm or male > 102 cm) vs normal waist circumference according to Dutch Heart Foundation (female ≤ 88 cm or male ≤ 102 cm).

⁵n = 1601 missing values (49.8%).

⁶n_{smoking behavior (current/previous)} = 1475, n = 7 missing values (0.5%).

⁷n_{alcohol consumption (current/previous)} = 2615, n = 3 missing values (0.1%).

⁸n = 203 missing values (6.3%).

⁹n = 205 missing values (6.4%).

¹⁰n = 206 missing values (6.4%).

¹¹n = 870 missing values (27.1%).

Percentages will not always add up to 100, because percentages have been rounded off. GERS: Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms; IQR: Interquartile range; OR: Odds ratio.

Table 2 Multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluating the association between consulting a primary care provider for gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics, n (%)

	Participants with GERS who had ever consulted a PCP (n = 661, 42.0%)1	Participants with GERS who had never consulted a PCP (n = 904, 57.5%)1	Participants with GERS who had ever consulted a PCP vs who had never consulted a PCP, OR (95%CI)
Age, years2
18-34	54 (8.5)	170 (19.3)	Reference category
35-54	173 (27.2)	288 (32.7)	1.532 (1.053-2.230)
55-75	410 (64.4)	422 (48.0)	2.244 (1.578-3.192)
Gender2
Female or non-binary	335 (52.6)	448 (50.9)
Male	302 (47.4)	432 (49.1)
Educational level3
Lower	154 (24.2)	138 (15.7)	Reference category
Middle	234 (36.7)	301 (34.2)	0.715 (0.527-0.971)
Higher	249 (39.1)	440 (50.1)	0.582 (0.432-0.784)
Civil status3
Living without a partner	139 (21.8)	204 (23.2)
Living with a partner	498 (78.2)	675 (76.8)
Migration background3
Dutch background	594 (93.2)	823 (93.6)
Western or non-Western background	43 (6.8)	56 (6.4)
Family history of esophageal cancer4
No or unknown	360 (79.6)	580 (83.7)
Yes	92 (20.4)	113 (16.3)
Duration of GERS1, years
< 1	142 (21.5)	415 (45.9)	Reference category
1-5	169 (25.6)	242 (26.8)	2.099 (1.578-2.791)
5-10	103 (15.6)	109 (12.1)	2.655 (1.890-3.730)
> 10	247 (37.4)	138 (15.3)	4.827 (3.602-6.469)
Age at onset GERS1, years
< 30	243 (36.8)	367 (40.6)
30-50	262 (39.6)	308 (34.1)
> 50	156 (23.6)	229 (25.3)

¹n = 7 missing values (0.4%).

²n = 55 missing values (3.5%).

³n = 56 missing values (3.6%).

⁴n = 427 missing values (27.2%).

Percentages will not always add up to 100, because percentages have been rounded off. GERS: Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms; PCP: Primary care provider; OR: Odds ratio.