Characteristics;"No. of patients (n=1,020)" Gender: "– Female";"550 (53.9%)" "– Male";"470 (46.1%)" "Age-range (years):" "Mean±SD (range)";"50.2±16.9 (18–100)" "– 18–25";"65 (6.4%)" "– 26–35";"170 (16.7%)" "– 36–49";"264 (25.9%)" "– 50–65";"318 (31.2%)" "– More than 65";"203 (19.9%)" "Body mass index (BMI):" "– Underweight (<18.5 kg/m2)";"18 (1.8%)" "– Normalweight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2)";"637 (62.5%)" "– Overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2)";"277 (27.2%)" "– Obese (30.0 kg/m2 and above)";"88 (8.6%)" "Daily cigarette consumption:" "– Non smokers";"706 (69.2%)" "– Less than 10";"173 (17.0%)" "– 10–20";"105 (10.3%)" "– More than 20";"36 (3.5%)" "Alcohol consumption:" "– Never";"412 (40.4%)" "– Rarely (<1–3 times/month)";"417 (40.9%)" "– Yes (during meals only)";"168 (16.5%)" "– Often (>1–2 times/week)";"23 (2.3%)" "Main gastrointestinal symptom reported" "– Epigastric burning";"324 (31.8%)" "– Acid regurgitation";"149 (14.6%)" "– Postprandial fullness";"122 (12.0%)" "– Burning sensation in the throat";"106 (10.4%)" "– Upper abdominal bloating";"100 (9.8%)" "– Heartburn";"76 (7.5%)" "– Epigastric pain";"71 (7.0%)" "– Chronic cough";"37 (3.6%)" "– Nausea";"35 (3.4%)" "Frequency of the main gastrointestinal symptom reported" "– Once per month";"121 (11.9%)" "– 2 or 3 times per month";"216 (21.2%)" "– Once per week";"190 (18.6%)" "– 2 or 3 times per week";"272 (26.7%)" "– 4 or more times per week";"221 (21.7%)"