HUBUNGAN POLA MAKAN DENGAN KEPARAHAN GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD) PADA MAHASISWA

ABSTRACT

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive disorder characterized by the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, resulting in symptoms such as epigastric pain, heartburn, nausea, and regurgitation. Irregular eating patterns, high-fat food consumption, and late-night eating habits are known to aggravate GERD symptoms, particularly among university students who tend to have an irregular lifestyle. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary patterns and the severity of GERD symptoms among university students.
This study employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 153 university students from various higher education institutions in Indonesia were selected using consecutive sampling techniques. Dietary patterns were measured using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), while the severity of GERD symptoms was assessed using the GERD-Q questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with the Spearman Rank correlation test at a significance level of p < 0.05.
The results showed that most respondents had good dietary patterns (63.4%) and moderate GERD severity (75.2%). The Spearman correlation test revealed a correlation coefficient of r = –0.238 with a p-value of 0.003, indicating a significant negative relationship between dietary patterns and GERD symptom severity. This means that the better the dietary pattern of students, the lower the severity of GERD symptoms they experience.
In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between dietary patterns and the severity of GERD symptoms among university students. Adopting a regular and healthy diet may serve as a non-pharmacological intervention to help control GERD symptoms in this population