Table 2 Univariate analysis of factors associated with RE
Risk factors | Number of cases (%) | p value* | |
|---|---|---|---|
RE group (n = 361) | Control group (n = 328) | ||
Education level | |||
Up to junior high school | 95 (26.3) | 25 (7.6) | < 0.001** |
Higher than junior high school | 266 (73.7) | 303 (92.4) | |
Marital status | |||
Single | 17 (4.7) | 19 (5.8) | 0.524 |
Married | 324 (89.8) | 293 (89.3) | 0.857 |
Divorced/Widowed | 20 (5.5) | 16 (4.9) | 0.697 |
Job | |||
Unemployed | 20 (5.5) | 16 (4.9) | 0.697 |
Self-employed | 32 (8.9) | 22 (6.7) | 0.293 |
Employed | 309 (85.6) | 290 (88.4) | 0.273 |
Domicile | |||
Rural | 41 (11.4) | 28 (8.5) | 0.218 |
Urban | 320 (88.6) | 300 (91.5) | |
Monthly income | |||
< $800 | 55 (15.2) | 42 (12.8) | 0.360 |
$800–1500 | 199 (55.1) | 196 (59.8) | 0.220 |
> $1500 | 107 (29.6) | 90 (27.4) | 0.523 |
Smoking | 84 (23.3) | 50 (15.2) | 0.008** |
Alcohol drinking | 75 (20.8) | 64 (19.5) | 0.170 |
Drinking strong tea | 87 (24.1) | 35 (10.7) | < 0.001** |
Drinking coffee | 48 (13.3) | 60 (18.3) | 0.072 |
Preference for sweets | 172 (47.6) | 86 (26.2) | < 0.001** |
Overeating | 200 (55.4) | 55 (16.8) | < 0.001** |
Short interval between dinner and sleep | 192 (53.2) | 72 (22.0) | < 0.001** |
Preference for spicy foods | 128 (35.5) | 120 (36.6) | 0.758 |
Preference for acidic foods | 74 (20.5) | 20 (6.1) | < 0.001** |
Preference for noodles | 193 (53.5) | 88 (26.8) | < 0.001** |
Preference for fried and fatty foods | 93 (25.8) | 59 (18.0) | 0.014** |
Preference for fruits | 93 (25.8) | 59 (18.0) | 0.014** |
Constipation | 76 (21.1) | 28 (8.5) | < 0.001** |
Sleeping on a low pillow | 159 (44.0) | 49 (14.9) | < 0.001** |
BMI (kg/m2) | |||
Normal weight (18.5–23.9) | 196 (54.3) | 231 (70.4) | < 0.001** |
Overweight (24–27.9) | 115 (31.9) | 76 (23.2) | 0.011** |
Obese (≥ 28) | 50 (13.9) | 21 (6.4) | 0.001** |
Comorbidities | |||
Hypertension | 104 (28.8) | 42 (12.8) | < 0.001** |
Ischemic heart disease | 29 (8.0) | 15 (4.6) | 0.064 |
Diabetes mellitus | 34 (9.4) | 20 (6.1) | 0.106 |
Hyperlipidemia | 47 (13.0) | 30 (9.1) | 0.107 |
Asthma | 15 (4.2) | 6 (1.8) | 0.076 |
Current medications (oral) | |||
Calcium channel blockers | 58 (16.1) | 19 (5.8) | < 0.001** |
Low-dose aspirin | 33 (9.1) | 18 (5.5) | 0. 068 |
Clopidogrel | 18 (5.0) | 9 (2.7) | 0.130 |
Statins | 45 (12.5) | 29 (8.8) | 0.125 |
Angiotensin receptor blockers | 43 (11.9) | 25 (7.6) | 0. 060 |
Hypoglycemic agents | 32 (8.9) | 18 (5.5) | 0.088 |
Theophylline | 10 (2.8) | 4 (1.2) | 0.150 |
β-receptor blockers | 46 (12.7) | 30 (9.1) | 0.626 |