Reviewer's report
Title:Prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a
Chinese retiree cohort
Version: 1Date:2 September 2012
Reviewer: Greger Lindberg
Reviewer's report:
This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of GERD in a population of
Chinese retirees. There are several problems with the approach that the authors
have taken to address this question.
Major compulsory revisions:
1. This study is based on questionnaire data. It is unclear if data were obtained
by staff interviewing subjects, as described in "Questionnaire about reflux" or if
the questionnaire was filled out by the subjects themselves as could be deduced
from the preceding section "The study cohort".
2. Has the questionnaire been validated? Does it pick up patients with GERD?
There is no information about this in Methods. If the questionnaire has not been
validated, it is difficult to judge the value and validity of results.
3. The key question for the symptom heartburn is perhaps flawed. The feeling of
heartburn is usually not described as a "burning pain" but perhaps as a "burning
sensation". I am uncertain how the two words pain and sensation translates to
Chinese langauages but in English they are separate. Again I wonder if this
particular question has been validated for eliciting the symptom heartburn or for
finding people with GERD.
4. I am intrigued by the association of reflux symptoms with a past (or present)
history of "chronic gastritis". What was the definition of chronic gastritis? Was it
symptom based or based on histology? Please consider two possibilities: chronic
gastritis due to H. pylori infection might be expected to lead to decreased acid
production at higher age and therefore protect against GERD; or chronic gastritis
as a symptom-based diagnosis which might equate to GERD.
Minor essential revisions:
5. Obesity is normally defined as BMI>=30, whereas overweight is defined as
BMI 25.0-29.9. Why did the authors choose a different definition? It is also
unclear if people with 28.0 were considered as overweight or obese since 25-28
includes 28.0 but so does >=28. Please revise this definition.
6. Language is fairly good but needs an update by a native English speaking
person.
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Reviewer's report
Title:Prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a
Chinese retiree cohort
Version: 1Date:2 September 2012
Reviewer: Greger Lindberg
Reviewer's report:
This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of GERD in a population of
Chinese retirees. There are several problems with the approach that the authors
have taken to address this question.
Major compulsory revisions:
1. This study is based on questionnaire data. It is unclear if data were obtained
by staff interviewing subjects, as described in "Questionnaire about reflux" or if
the questionnaire was filled out by the subjects themselves as could be deduced
from the preceding section "The study cohort".
2. Has the questionnaire been validated? Does it pick up patients with GERD?
There is no information about this in Methods. If the questionnaire has not been
validated, it is difficult to judge the value and validity of results.
3. The key question for the symptom heartburn is perhaps flawed. The feeling of
heartburn is usually not described as a "burning pain" but perhaps as a "burning
sensation". I am uncertain how the two words pain and sensation translates to
Chinese langauages but in English they are separate. Again I wonder if this
particular question has been validated for eliciting the symptom heartburn or for
finding people with GERD.
4. I am intrigued by the association of reflux symptoms with a past (or present)
history of "chronic gastritis". What was the definition of chronic gastritis? Was it
symptom based or based on histology? Please consider two possibilities: chronic
gastritis due to H. pylori infection might be expected to lead to decreased acid
production at higher age and therefore protect against GERD; or chronic gastritis
as a symptom-based diagnosis which might equate to GERD.
Minor essential revisions:
5. Obesity is normally defined as BMI>=30, whereas overweight is defined as
BMI 25.0-29.9. Why did the authors choose a different definition? It is also
unclear if people with 28.0 were considered as overweight or obese since 25-28
includes 28.0 but so does >=28. Please revise this definition.
6. Language is fairly good but needs an update by a native English speaking
person.
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in a
Chinese retiree cohort
Version: 1Date:2 September 2012
Reviewer: Greger Lindberg
Reviewer's report:
This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of GERD in a population of
Chinese retirees. There are several problems with the approach that the authors
have taken to address this question.
Major compulsory revisions:
1. This study is based on questionnaire data. It is unclear if data were obtained
by staff interviewing subjects, as described in "Questionnaire about reflux" or if
the questionnaire was filled out by the subjects themselves as could be deduced
from the preceding section "The study cohort".
2. Has the questionnaire been validated? Does it pick up patients with GERD?
There is no information about this in Methods. If the questionnaire has not been
validated, it is difficult to judge the value and validity of results.
3. The key question for the symptom heartburn is perhaps flawed. The feeling of
heartburn is usually not described as a "burning pain" but perhaps as a "burning
sensation". I am uncertain how the two words pain and sensation translates to
Chinese langauages but in English they are separate. Again I wonder if this
particular question has been validated for eliciting the symptom heartburn or for
finding people with GERD.
4. I am intrigued by the association of reflux symptoms with a past (or present)
history of "chronic gastritis". What was the definition of chronic gastritis? Was it
symptom based or based on histology? Please consider two possibilities: chronic
gastritis due to H. pylori infection might be expected to lead to decreased acid
production at higher age and therefore protect against GERD; or chronic gastritis
as a symptom-based diagnosis which might equate to GERD.
Minor essential revisions:
5. Obesity is normally defined as BMI>=30, whereas overweight is defined as
BMI 25.0-29.9. Why did the authors choose a different definition? It is also
unclear if people with 28.0 were considered as overweight or obese since 25-28
includes 28.0 but so does >=28. Please revise this definition.
6. Language is fairly good but needs an update by a native English speaking
person.
Level of interest: An article of limited interest
Quality of written English: Needs some language corrections before being
published
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests
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