Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and identify risk factors among medical students in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, targeting those aged 18 and above, and was conducted online from March 2024 to July 2024. An estimated sample size of 210 was computed. A convenience sampling technique was employed, with a self-administered survey distributed electronically through social media platforms to reach the target population. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with Chi-square tests determining associations between variables, considering a P value <0.05 as significant. RESULTS: The study included a majority of male participants (63.8%) with most participants aged 21-23 years (58.6%). Key risk factors identified were frequent consumption of spicy meals (43.3%) and fried food (49.0%), with 25.2% of participants being obese Gender analysis showed similar GERD symptom frequencies between males and females, but females reported feeling full before finishing a meal more often than males (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: The study reveals a notable prevalence of GERD symptoms among medical students, with heartburn and stomach bloating being the most frequently reported.