TABLE 1

Demographic characteristics of the participants

	Micro-aspiration	Pharyngeal contamination supine	Pharyngeal contamination upright
Subjects n	243	230	298
Sex, female %	67	69	61
Age years, median (range)	62 (17–88)	61 (14–88)	59 (16–87)
BMI kg·m⁻², mean±sd	27.1±3.93	27.9±4.01	27.3±2.82
PPI use %^#	68	66	66
Prokinetic or laxative use %	5	4	4

BMI: body mass index; PPI: proton pump inhibitor. ^#: appropriateness of prescription could not be assessed as vast majority presented on PPI therapy.