1, middle-aged and elderly It is now generally accepted that the incidence of GERD increases with age, with the peak age of incidence being 40-60 years. Domestic surveys have shown that the incidence of reflux symptoms is significantly higher in those over 30 years of age than in those under 30 years of age; a study conducted in Taiwan in 1997 found that the occurrence of reflux esophagitis increases with age, reaching a peak at the ages of 60 and 70. 2. Men Most reports suggest that there are significantly more male than female patients with reflux esophagitis. Surveys show that the ratio of male to female incidence is 2.4:1. 3. Obesity Obesity is a moderate risk factor for the development of the main symptoms of reflux esophagitis. Overweight is a common phenomenon among patients with GERD. After telephone interviews with 2,500 randomly selected respondents aged 40-79 years in the Spanish national population, it was found that the increase in body mass in the short term (1 year) was significantly associated with the symptoms of the disease, and the more the increase in body mass, the more likely it was that symptoms such as reflux and heartburn would occur. 4, smoking Frequent smoking is a risk factor for GERD. in 1997, a study was conducted in Taiwan in which 455 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were examined endoscopically and 50 cases of reflux esophagitis were detected, 50% of whom smoked, an average of 20 cigarettes/day. 5. Alcohol consumption Many studies have found that alcohol consumption is significantly associated with GERD. It was found that drinking alcohol more than 7 times a week was associated with frequent reflux symptoms, and heavy alcohol consumption was associated with symptomatic GERD. 6. hiatal hernia The relationship between esophageal hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis is striking. Large hiatal hernias are often associated with moderate to severe reflux esophagitis. A hiatal hernia decreases the tone of the gastroesophageal junction, increasing sensory stimulation of the fundus to the point of triggering transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation. As patients age (especially over 50 years of age), atrophy and relaxation of the diaphragmatic esophageal ligament occurs with esophageal hiatal hernia. Long-term increased intra-abdominal pressure is a factor that induces esophageal hiatal hernia, such as pregnancy, obesity, chronic constipation and violent cough. 7, mental factors Research shows that people with heavy life stress are prone to this disease. Another study also found that exertion, mental stress, and anger are all related to the disease of symptomatic GERD, suggesting that psychological stress may be a risk factor for it.