Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0452-1 (2016)

Reviewer’s report  
Title: Prevalence of gastro -esophageal reflux disease and its risk factors in a community -based  
population in southern India  
 
Version: 0 Date: 20 Oct 2015  
 
Reviewer: Marco Ettore Allaix  
Reviewer’s report:  
This is an interesting paper assessing prevalence and risk factors for GE RD in Southern India.  
 
I have a few comments:  
 
1. the introduction is too long  
 
2. The last sentence at page 4 (lines 56 -59) is misleading since only a paper from India 
states that. I suggest to remove it or to rephrase it in order to let the reader understan d the 
reason why a 24 -h pH monitoring should not be routinely used for the diagnosis of 
GERD even though it is considered worldwide the gold standard.  
 
3. the lack of 24 -pH monitoring should be included in the limitation section of the 
discussion.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please spe cify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript o r would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written Engl ish 
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, consideri ng the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
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2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organis ation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, e ither now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the  content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements , fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the  content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other fin ancial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests  in relation to this pa per? 
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
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