Fig. 3

Flow diagram for the patient’s’ selection process. ¹All consecutive patients referred to the endoscopy unit for esophagogastroduodenoscopy because of dyspepsia. ²Patients with the following conditions were excluded: history of H. pylori eradication, recent treatment with H2 blocker or proton pump inhibitors or NSAIDs or medications induced GERD (e.g. anticholinergics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, inhaled bronchodilators, and birth control pills), esophageal or gastric surgery, upper gastrointestinal malignancy, and participants with poor cooperation. ³The diagnosis of erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease was made by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease