Prevalence and Determinants of Gastro‐Esophageal Reflux Disease Among Medical Students: A Cross‐Sectional Study From Pakistan

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Gastro‐esophageal reflux disease (GERD) significantly impacts the quality of life and has shown increasing prevalence globally. Despite its increasing burden, limited data is available on medical students who are at higher risk due to lifestyle habits such as irregular eating patterns and stress. This study aimed to assess the association between lifestyle factors, perceived stress and GERD. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted with a sample size of 242 (CI: 95%; ERR: 5%), using the Cochran formula. Convenience sampling was used, and a structured questionnaire was distributed in November 2024 to inquire about demographics, risk factors, probable GERD (GERDQ), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10). Participants were categorized as follows: GERD: cutoff ≥ 8; stress: low (0–13), moderate (14–26), high (27–40). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of GERD, with reporting of odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Result Out of the 249 responses received, 212(85.1%) were female, and 189(75.9%) had a healthy BMI (18–25 kg/m2). The calculated GERD prevalence was 20.5% (n = 51), whereas 31 (12.4%) participants reported high levels of perceived stress. In bivariate analysis, GERD and midnight snacking ( p = 0.007), mode of exercise ( p = 0.034), and perceived stress ( p = 0.025) were significant. In the multivariate analysis, only midnight snacking (AOR = 7.62, 95% CI: 1.60–36.21) and mode of exercise (AOR = 3.997, 95% CI: 1.53–10.46) remained statistically significant. Conclusion Midnight snacking and exercise patterns are significant predictors of GERD. These findings suggest that lifestyle behavior contributes to the disease symptoms, and future longitudinal studies may benefit from evaluating the effectiveness of interventions targeting these factors, such as stress management programs/support groups, lifestyle modifications and disease‐related awareness.