Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study
Abstract In this study, we investigated the association between wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in different geographic regions of Taiwan in a large cohort. Participants (n = 120,424) residing in the four main geographical areas of Taiwan (North, Central,...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07073-8 |
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| author | Chien-Cheng Chen Hsin-Yi Huang Ting-Yi Wu Wei-Yu Su Tang-Huang Lin Hung-Pin Tu Chih-Da Wu Chao-Hung Kuo Szu-Chia Chen |
| author_facet | Chien-Cheng Chen Hsin-Yi Huang Ting-Yi Wu Wei-Yu Su Tang-Huang Lin Hung-Pin Tu Chih-Da Wu Chao-Hung Kuo Szu-Chia Chen |
| author_sort | Chien-Cheng Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this study, we investigated the association between wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in different geographic regions of Taiwan in a large cohort. Participants (n = 120,424) residing in the four main geographical areas of Taiwan (North, Central, South and Eastern Taiwan) were enrolled from the Taiwan Biobank. Questionnaires were used to ascertain the presence of GERD based on self-reported physician diagnosis, and WBGT was assessed separately during working (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and noon (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM) periods. In Northern Taiwan, there is no significant association between WBGT and GERD during either the noon or working period. In Central Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period (odds ratio [OR], 1.055 [95% CI 1.008–1.105]; 1.062 [95% CI 1.013–1.114]; 1.059 [95% CI 1.009–1.111]) and working period (OR, 1.089 [95% CI 1.034–1.146]; 1.092 [95% CI 1.037–1.150]; 1.084 [95% CI 1.031–1.139]) were significantly associated with GERD. Similarly, in Southern Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period (OR, 1.292 [95% CI 1.236–1.351]; 1.323 [95% CI 1.261–1.389]; 1.386 [95% CI 1.316–1.460]) and working period (OR, 1.238 [95% CI 1.190–1.288]; 1.247 [95% CI 1.196–1.301]; 1.259 [95% CI 1.204–1.318]) were significantly associated with GERD. However, in Eastern Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period were significantly associated with GERD (OR, 1.067 [95% CI 1.015–1.122]; 1.089 [95% CI 1.041–1.138]; 1.107 [95% CI 1.058–1.158]), whereas the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ decrease during the working period were significantly associated with GERD. Increases in average WBGT values were significantly associated with GERD during both the noon and working periods in Central and Southern Taiwan, and the impact of WBGT was much stronger in Southern Taiwan. While a similar result was found in Eastern Taiwan during the noon period, a reverse correlation was found during the working period. Our findings suggest that heat stress may be associated with GERD, although the impact may differ according to regional characteristics. The causal relationship could not be confirmed due to the cross-sectional design of the study. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to establish the relationship. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8e4e3bdb3c984f118aaae2c751f53fa3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8e4e3bdb3c984f118aaae2c751f53fa32025-08-20T03:03:42ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-07073-8Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population studyChien-Cheng Chen0Hsin-Yi Huang1Ting-Yi Wu2Wei-Yu Su3Tang-Huang Lin4Hung-Pin Tu5Chih-Da Wu6Chao-Hung Kuo7Szu-Chia Chen8Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityTeaching and Research Center, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityTeaching and Research Center, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityCenter for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityResearch Center for Precision Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityAbstract In this study, we investigated the association between wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in different geographic regions of Taiwan in a large cohort. Participants (n = 120,424) residing in the four main geographical areas of Taiwan (North, Central, South and Eastern Taiwan) were enrolled from the Taiwan Biobank. Questionnaires were used to ascertain the presence of GERD based on self-reported physician diagnosis, and WBGT was assessed separately during working (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and noon (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM) periods. In Northern Taiwan, there is no significant association between WBGT and GERD during either the noon or working period. In Central Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period (odds ratio [OR], 1.055 [95% CI 1.008–1.105]; 1.062 [95% CI 1.013–1.114]; 1.059 [95% CI 1.009–1.111]) and working period (OR, 1.089 [95% CI 1.034–1.146]; 1.092 [95% CI 1.037–1.150]; 1.084 [95% CI 1.031–1.139]) were significantly associated with GERD. Similarly, in Southern Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period (OR, 1.292 [95% CI 1.236–1.351]; 1.323 [95% CI 1.261–1.389]; 1.386 [95% CI 1.316–1.460]) and working period (OR, 1.238 [95% CI 1.190–1.288]; 1.247 [95% CI 1.196–1.301]; 1.259 [95% CI 1.204–1.318]) were significantly associated with GERD. However, in Eastern Taiwan, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ increase during the noon period were significantly associated with GERD (OR, 1.067 [95% CI 1.015–1.122]; 1.089 [95% CI 1.041–1.138]; 1.107 [95% CI 1.058–1.158]), whereas the 1-, 3-, and 5-year WBGT values per 1℃ decrease during the working period were significantly associated with GERD. Increases in average WBGT values were significantly associated with GERD during both the noon and working periods in Central and Southern Taiwan, and the impact of WBGT was much stronger in Southern Taiwan. While a similar result was found in Eastern Taiwan during the noon period, a reverse correlation was found during the working period. Our findings suggest that heat stress may be associated with GERD, although the impact may differ according to regional characteristics. The causal relationship could not be confirmed due to the cross-sectional design of the study. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to establish the relationship.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07073-8Wet-bulb Globe temperatureNoon and work periodGastroesophageal reflux diseaseDifferent geographic regionTaiwan biobank |
| spellingShingle | Chien-Cheng Chen Hsin-Yi Huang Ting-Yi Wu Wei-Yu Su Tang-Huang Lin Hung-Pin Tu Chih-Da Wu Chao-Hung Kuo Szu-Chia Chen Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study Scientific Reports Wet-bulb Globe temperature Noon and work period Gastroesophageal reflux disease Different geographic region Taiwan biobank |
| title | Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study |
| title_full | Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study |
| title_fullStr | Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study |
| title_short | Association between wet-bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large Taiwanese population study |
| title_sort | association between wet bulb globe temperature with gastroesophageal reflux disease in different geographic regions in a large taiwanese population study |
| topic | Wet-bulb Globe temperature Noon and work period Gastroesophageal reflux disease Different geographic region Taiwan biobank |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-07073-8 |
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