Raised levels of educational attainment may have a protective impact against gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by having a negative causal link, according to a recent study. Researchers sought to investigate the relationship between GERD and educational attainment. To assess the causality, several Mendelian randomization (MR) techniques were used. The MR outcomes were assessed using the leave-one-out sensitivity test, MR-Egger regression, and multivariable MR (MVMR) assessment.

In this Mendelian randomization study, greater educational attainment was substantially linked to a decreased risk of GERD (inverse variance weighted method, odds ratio [OR]: 0.979). When the weighted mode and weighted median were applied for causal estimation, similar findings were found. Body mass index (BMI) and educational attainment were substantially associated and inversely connected with GERD (OR: 0.997 and OR: 0.981, respectively) after controlling for putative mediators, according to the MVMR analysis.

By exhibiting a negative causal link, higher levels of educational attainment may protect against GERD. BMI may also play a vital role in the educational attainment-GERD pathway.