Demographic and clinical characteristics of sampled patients (n=27 290)
| Variable | Patients who received a diagnosis of GORD, n=13 645 | Comparison patients n=13 645 | p Value | ||
| Total number | Column % | Total number | Column % | ||
| Males | 6490 | 47.6 | 6474 | 47.5 | 0.846 |
| Age, mean (SD) | 48.2±15.0 | 48.1±16.1 | 0.064 | ||
| Urbanisation level | |||||
| 1 (most) | 4512 | 33.1 | 4430 | 32.5 | 0.780 |
| 2 | 3852 | 28.2 | 3907 | 28.6 | |
| 3 | 1964 | 14.4 | 2011 | 14.7 | |
| 4 | 1827 | 13.4 | 1817 | 13.3 | |
| 5 (least) | 1490 | 10.9 | 1480 | 10.9 | |
| Monthly income | |||||
| NT$0–15 840 | 4688 | 34.4 | 4782 | 35.0 | 0.204 |
| NT$15 841–25 000 | 4800 | 35.2 | 4837 | 35.5 | |
| ≥NT$25 001 | 4157 | 30.5 | 4026 | 29.5 | |
| Geographical region | |||||
| Northern | 6615 | 48.5 | 6707 | 49.1 | 0.168 |
| Central | 4013 | 29.4 | 3827 | 28.0 | |
| Southern | 2724 | 20.0 | 2740 | 20.1 | |
| Eastern | 293 | 2.1 | 281 | 1.8 | |
| Hypertension | 4218 | 30.9 | 4121 | 30.2 | 0.202 |
| Diabetes | 1922 | 14.1 | 1864 | 13.7 | 0.310 |
| Tobacco use disorder | 428 | 3.1 | 392 | 2.9 | 0.202 |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 4095 | 30.0 | 3976 | 29.1 | 0.114 |
| Obesity | 245 | 1.8 | 219 | 1.6 | 0.223 |
| Stroke | 1240 | 9.1 | 1165 | 8.5 | 0.109 |
| Coronary heart disease | 1483 | 10.9 | 1473 | 10.8 | 0.846 |
| Number of ambulatory care visits within 1 year after index date | 28.6±22.6 | 18.7±18.1 | <0.001 | ||
Note: The average exchange rate in 2008 was US$1.00≈New Taiwan (NT)$29.
GORD, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.