Review for 10.1186/s12876-019-0950-z (2019)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  What is the impact of metabolic syndrome and its components on reflux esophagitis? A 
cross -sectional study  
 
Version: 2 Date: 13 Jan 2019 
 
Reviewer:  HC Lien 
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
The major contribution of the study is to demonstrate a dose -response relationship between the 
number of MetS components and the severity of RE, in support of the hypothesis of causal link 
between them. However, the data quality is limited by the potential ov erdiagnosis of RE and the 
nature of the retrospective study design.    
 
There remains one minor concern, that is, the authors reported that H. pylori was only checked in 
those with endoscopic diagnosis of gastric ulcer in the Methods, whereas Table 2 shows H. 
pylori results of all the participants. Should the authors check the data consistency.  
 
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 specify 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 or 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.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please i ndicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, fun ding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
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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 financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
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