Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract: Importance: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common digestive disorder in which acid-containing contents in your stomach persistently leak back up into the esophagus, especially in stressful lifestyle such as medical students. Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of GERD in Medical students in Jordan, assess factors which affect the occurrence of GERD in the study population, access the stressors of medical students during the pandemic, assess, if any, effect is present related to COVID-19 pandemic, and to look for possible preventive measures for GERD. Design: cross-sectional study including a questionnaire of 6 questions of the duration of seven days prepared on google forms and electronically. Data was collected in the period between 31st January 2021 and 18th April 2021. Setting: Medical Faculties and hospitals in Jordan. Participants: population-based sample; medical students studying in Jordan. Main outcomes and Measures: Medical students' lifestyles are stressful, and a lot of risk factors attributed to GERD are common among medical students. COVID-19 infection is known to cause GI symptoms and as an infection, it could be a stressor especially during the pandemic. Statistical methods included descriptive analysis, Cramer's V statistics, and the Chi-square test as measures of effect sizes. Our findings were not significant enough to confirm that COVID-19 infection causes GERD. However, alternation in GERD symptoms was found to be significant. Results: Out of 1009 subjects, 43.4% were males, and 56.6% were females. The most common symptoms were heartburn and regurgitations and were found in 421 (41.7%) and 325 (32.2%) students, respectively. 199 (19.7%) of students were affected by COVID-19 but it was not statistically significant (P >0.05). However, alteration in the feeling of GERD symptoms in those who were infected with COVID-19 was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion and relevance: Our findings suggest that the most frequent symptoms of GERD reported by medical students are heartburn and regurgitation. In addition to that, the students who were infected with COVID-19 were in the high-risk group. Therefore, more efforts and studies are needed to look for the pathophysiology of COVID-19 infection's effect on the GERD symptoms.   Keywords:  GERD, Regurgitation, COVID-19, Pandemic.