Authors
Divyanshi Chauhan, Shweta Mangal, Ashok Kumar, Disha Mangal
Published in
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India. Volume 74. Issue 9. Pages 48-52. Sep 01, 2026. Epub Sep 01, 2026.
Abstract
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a persistent state due to the retrograde flow of acidic gastric contents, leading to symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, and dysphagia. Postgraduate medical students are exposed to high stress and lifestyle factors that predispose them to gastrointestinal symptoms. Limited Indian data exist on GERD prevalence in this cohort.
A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted using the GERD-Q tool. Data were collected via an online Google Form and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The Chi-square statistical test and univariate analysis were performed to identify associations between GERD and variables.
Among 324 participants (mean age, 28.1 years), 77.4% were aged 25-30 years; 52.5% were male. Most were hostellers or paying guests. GERD prevalence was 25.3%. The prevalence was higher among males (27.6%) compared with females (22.7%) and among participants with higher BMI (27.6%) compared with those with normal BMI (23.5%). GERD prevalence was highest among postgraduates in medicine and allied specialties (31.3%), followed by surgical (23.3%) and preclinical/paraclinical departments (19.2%).
This study highlights a significant burden of GERD among postgraduate medical students. Identifying associated risk factors may help in designing targeted interventions to improve gastrointestinal health and overall well-being of healthcare providers.
PMID:
42902643
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 22 Oct 2026.
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