Orders, directions, and standardized coefficients of associations between the 12 upper GI symptoms and 13 background factors among the 364 PPI users.

Background factors are (F1) age, (F2) female gender, (F3) BMI, (F4A) HP IgG ≥10 U/ml, (F4B) 10 U/ml>HP IgG ≥2 U/ml, (F5A) 2≥PG I/II, (F5B) 3≥PG I/II >2, (F6) use of NSAIDs, (F7) inadequate sleep, (F8) weight gain in adulthood, (F9) meals immediately prior to sleep, (F10) frequent skipping of breakfast, (F11) lack of habitual exercise, (F12) alcohol drinking, and (F13) smoking. (F4A) and (F4B) were compared with “2> HP IgG”, and (F5A) and (F5B) were compared with “PG I/II >3”. Orders of association among the 13 background factors are shown as the upper integers for the individual 12 symptoms, in which attached “P” and “N” denote positive and negative association respectively. Standardized coefficients are shown as the lower decimal fractions. The levels of significance in these multivariate analyses were set at p scores below 0.05 were set for the level of significance.