Insiden Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Sebelum dan Saat Pandemi Covid-19 di RSUP H. Adam Malik

Abstract

Background: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition developed when there is a retrograde back flow of gastric content to esophagus. GERD is a common disease and the incident numbers in Asia is increasing gradually from year to year. Activity restriction (lockdown) that happened during Covid-19 pandemic affects society’s eating habit and life style which are risk factors of GERD and the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux. Objective: This study was conducted to find the incidence of GERD during Covid-19 pandemic and compared with the previous situation in patients who met the diagnostic criteria at H. Adam Malik Central General Hospital. Method: This research is a descriptive research study with a cross sectional design where data was taken based on data from medical records in H. Adam Malik Central General Hospital 2017-2022 with the sampling technique used is total sampling, where the research subjects were all patients diagnosed GERD that meets the inclusion criteria. Results: The incidence of GERD before (2017-2019) and during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022) were 21 and 37 patients respectively (there was a 76% escalation in the incidence of GERD during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic). The similar characteristics of GERD patients before and during the Covid-19 pandemic are age >40 years, work as an employee, high school graduate, and overweight BMI. Conclusion: The incidence of GERD has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic.