Title: Sex difference in the associations among risk factors with gastroesophageal reflux disease
in a large Taiwanese population study
Version: 2 Date: 10 Mar 2024
Reviewer's report:
1.Please add China behind Taiwan.
Not revised.
2.Introduction. The authors described that “Gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) is a common global health issue, with a prevalence of approximately
10% to 20% in Western countries and less than 5% in Asia”. In general, the
reported prevalence of GERD in Asia is lower that of western countries, but not
all are below 5% (i.e. a meta-analysis showed the rate being 12.5% in China [doi:
10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-6899.2015.01.011]), please make a comprehensive
search and provide the accurate rates range.
Revised.
3.Introduction.  The authors described that “Symptoms of GERD such as
heartburn, regurgitation, belching, fullness sensation affect females more than
males, while pathologic changes are more common in males than in females”. The
citation is missing, please also described the accurate data.
Revised.
4.Introduction. The authors should shorten or delete the second paragraph since it is
unrelated to GERD.
Revised.
5.ntroduction. The third paragraph. The authors described that “Nevertheless, few
studies have investigated sex differences in the risk factors associated with
GERD”. Please provide the detailed results and limitation of these studies to
validate your further study on the same direction.
Revised.
6.Materials and methods. Please describe the method for the choose of study
population for the Taiwan Biobank and your GERD study. In which time period
and how many cases are included in the Taiwan Biobank? How do you choose
participants from the Taiwan Biobank for the GERD study? Please also provide
your detailed GERD questionnaire and make a clear definition of questionnaire
based GERD.
Revised.
7.Statistical analysis. Why symptoms are not be compared and included for
multivariable analysis?
Not revised due to the limitation in the design of the study, which is a major loss.
8.Discussion. The first paragraph. The authors described that “Furthermore, there
were sex differences in the risk factors associated with GERD, and older age, DM,
smoking history, and low HDL-C were more closely related to GERD in the
females than in the males”. It is a little bit different from Table 5, please modify
your description accordingly.
Revised.
9.Discussion. The second paragraph. The authors described that “Therefore, as
women tend to live longer than men, this may explain the higher prevalence of
GERD”. According to Table 3, there is no significant difference for age between
male and female, the description needs to be modified.
Revised.
10.Discussion. The interpretation for the relation of older age, DM, smoking, and low
HDL-C level with GERD is farfetched. Please describe more carefully and, if
possible, provide some actual analysis.
Not revised appropriately.
Title: Sex difference in the associations among risk factors with gastroesophageal reflux disease
in a large Taiwanese population study
Version: 2 Date: 10 Mar 2024
Reviewer's report:
1.Please add China behind Taiwan.
Not revised.
2.Introduction. The authors described that “Gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) is a common global health issue, with a prevalence of approximately
10% to 20% in Western countries and less than 5% in Asia”. In general, the
reported prevalence of GERD in Asia is lower that of western countries, but not
all are below 5% (i.e. a meta-analysis showed the rate being 12.5% in China [doi:
10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-6899.2015.01.011]), please make a comprehensive
search and provide the accurate rates range.
Revised.
3.Introduction.  The authors described that “Symptoms of GERD such as
heartburn, regurgitation, belching, fullness sensation affect females more than
males, while pathologic changes are more common in males than in females”. The
citation is missing, please also described the accurate data.
Revised.
4.Introduction. The authors should shorten or delete the second paragraph since it is
unrelated to GERD.
Revised.
5.ntroduction. The third paragraph. The authors described that “Nevertheless, few
studies have investigated sex differences in the risk factors associated with
GERD”. Please provide the detailed results and limitation of these studies to
validate your further study on the same direction.
Revised.
6.Materials and methods. Please describe the method for the choose of study
population for the Taiwan Biobank and your GERD study. In which time period
and how many cases are included in the Taiwan Biobank? How do you choose
participants from the Taiwan Biobank for the GERD study? Please also provide
your detailed GERD questionnaire and make a clear definition of questionnaire
based GERD.
Revised.
7.Statistical analysis. Why symptoms are not be compared and included for
multivariable analysis?
Not revised due to the limitation in the design of the study, which is a major loss.
8.Discussion. The first paragraph. The authors described that “Furthermore, there
were sex differences in the risk factors associated with GERD, and older age, DM,
smoking history, and low HDL-C were more closely related to GERD in the
females than in the males”. It is a little bit different from Table 5, please modify
your description accordingly.
Revised.
9.Discussion. The second paragraph. The authors described that “Therefore, as
women tend to live longer than men, this may explain the higher prevalence of
GERD”. According to Table 3, there is no significant difference for age between
male and female, the description needs to be modified.
Revised.
10.Discussion. The interpretation for the relation of older age, DM, smoking, and low
HDL-C level with GERD is farfetched. Please describe more carefully and, if
possible, provide some actual analysis.
Not revised appropriately.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Sex difference in the associations among risk factors with gastroesophageal reflux disease
in a large Taiwanese population study
Version: 2 Date: 10 Mar 2024
Reviewer's report:
1.Please add China behind Taiwan.
Not revised.
2.Introduction. The authors described that “Gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) is a common global health issue, with a prevalence of approximately
10% to 20% in Western countries and less than 5% in Asia”. In general, the
reported prevalence of GERD in Asia is lower that of western countries, but not
all are below 5% (i.e. a meta-analysis showed the rate being 12.5% in China [doi:
10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-6899.2015.01.011]), please make a comprehensive
search and provide the accurate rates range.
Revised.
3.Introduction.  The authors described that “Symptoms of GERD such as
heartburn, regurgitation, belching, fullness sensation affect females more than
males, while pathologic changes are more common in males than in females”. The
citation is missing, please also described the accurate data.
Revised.
4.Introduction. The authors should shorten or delete the second paragraph since it is
unrelated to GERD.
Revised.
5.ntroduction. The third paragraph. The authors described that “Nevertheless, few
studies have investigated sex differences in the risk factors associated with
GERD”. Please provide the detailed results and limitation of these studies to
validate your further study on the same direction.
Revised.
6.Materials and methods. Please describe the method for the choose of study
population for the Taiwan Biobank and your GERD study. In which time period
and how many cases are included in the Taiwan Biobank? How do you choose
participants from the Taiwan Biobank for the GERD study? Please also provide
your detailed GERD questionnaire and make a clear definition of questionnaire
based GERD.
Revised.
7.Statistical analysis. Why symptoms are not be compared and included for
multivariable analysis?
Not revised due to the limitation in the design of the study, which is a major loss.
8.Discussion. The first paragraph. The authors described that “Furthermore, there
were sex differences in the risk factors associated with GERD, and older age, DM,
smoking history, and low HDL-C were more closely related to GERD in the
females than in the males”. It is a little bit different from Table 5, please modify
your description accordingly.
Revised.
9.Discussion. The second paragraph. The authors described that “Therefore, as
women tend to live longer than men, this may explain the higher prevalence of
GERD”. According to Table 3, there is no significant difference for age between
male and female, the description needs to be modified.
Revised.
10.Discussion. The interpretation for the relation of older age, DM, smoking, and low
HDL-C level with GERD is farfetched. Please describe more carefully and, if
possible, provide some actual analysis.
Not revised appropriately.
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