The relationship between mental health and quality of life with gastroesophageal reflux

Background and purpose: Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common disease of the digestive tract which could have adverse effects on mental health and quality of life. Unfortunately, there is an increasing incidence of this disease in Iran. In this study we examined the relationship between mental health and quality of life in people with acid reflux disease in general population in Amol, 2012. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study included 473 people who were randomly selected via cluster sampling. Among the subjects 229 had gastroesophageal reflux disease while 224 people did not suffer from the disease. The questionnaires for demographic characteristics, mental health and quality of life and reflux were completed. To analyze the data t test, chi-square and Spearman correlation were applied. Results: Patients with reflux had lower scores in mental health status. Also, eight domains of quality of life in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease was lower for the domains of physical role, body pain, general health perception, vitality, social functioning, and mental health. Conclusion: In this study we found that mental health in people with gastroesophageal reflux is lower than that of the normal subjects. Also, the quality of life in these people, especially in six domains of physical role, body pain, general health perception, vitality, social functioning and mental health, was lower than those of the healthy people. © 2015 Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved