Table 1.
Characteristics of Participants With and Without Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms
| GERD Symptoms at Least Weekly N=2,310 | No GERD Symptoms in the Last Year N=3,916 | |
|---|---|---|
| Age, years (mean ± SD) | 66 ± 7 | 66 ± 7 |
| Body Mass Index (mean ± SD) | 27.8 ± 5.3 | 25.6 ± 5.0 |
| Smoking Status (%) | ||
| Never | 44 | 47 |
| Past | 47 | 40 |
| Current | 6 | 9 |
| Missing | 3 | 4 |
| Total Activity, METs/week (mean ± SD) | 16 ± 19 | 19 ± 22 |
| Total Daily Calorie Intake (mean ± SD) | 1763 ± 534 | 1695 ± 523 |
| Alcohol Intake, drinks/day (mean ± SD) | 0.3 ± 0.7 | 0.4 ± 0.8 |
| Coffee Intake, drinks/day (mean ± SD) | 1.7 ± 1.4 | 1.7 ± 1.5 |
| Tea Intake, drinks/day (mean ± SD) | 0.7 ± 1.2 | 0.7 ± 1.1 |
| Chocolate, servings/day (mean ± SD) | 0.1 ± 0.2 | 0.1 ± 0.2 |
| Hormone Therapy (%) | ||
| Pre-menopausal | 2 | 3 |
| Never | 20 | 26 |
| Past Use | 22 | 19 |
| Estrogen Only | 20 | 15 |
| Estrogen and Progesterone | 12 | 14 |
| Missing | 24 | 23 |
| Anti-hypertension Medication Use (%) | 37 | 28 |
| Asthma Medication Use (%) | 11 | 6 |
| Diabetes (%) | 7 | 8 |
Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; MET, metabolic equivalent.
GERD symptoms were defined as heartburn (“a burning pain or discomfort behind the breast bone in your chest”) and/or acid regurgitation (“a bitter or sour-tasting fluid coming into your throat or mouth.”)