Ronkainen J et al. Impact of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms on health-related quality of life in the adult general population. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2006;23:1725–33.
A population-based study conducted in Sweden showed that troublesome symptoms of GERD impaired many aspects of everyday life. Impairment increased with increasing symptom frequency. The occurrence of troublesome GERD symptoms at least once a week was reported as an appropriate frequency cut-off to guide diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.
Wiklund I et al. Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and well-being in a random sample of the general population of a Swedish community. Am J Gastroenterol 2006;101:18–28.
A population-based study conducted in Sweden showed that troublesome symptoms of GERD impaired everyday life. Impairment increased with increasing symptom severity. The presence of mild or more severe symptoms was reported as an appropriate severity cut-off to guide diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.
Ruigómez A et al. Differences and similarities between gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn diagnoses in family practice. Curr Med Res Opin 2006;22:1661–8.
A retrospective cohort study conducted in the UK primary care setting showed that the ratio of GERD to heartburn diagnoses differed widely between different primary care practices. Both patient groups had broadly similar general characteristics. The findings highlight a need for clearer guidelines when assessing gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.
Vakil N et al. The Montréal definition and classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a global evidence-based consensus. Am J Gastroenterol 2006;101:1900-20.
The Montreal definition of GERD has recently been developed by a global consensus group of experts. The definition provides an internationally acceptable classification of esophageal and extraesophageal syndromes that forms the basis for diagnosis and disease management.
Hungin AP et al. Beyond heartburn: laryngitis concludes this systematic review of the extraesophageal spectrum of reflux-induced disease. Family Practice 2005;22:591–603.
Patients with GERD are at increased risk of chest pain, asthma, chronic cough and laryngitis, concludes a systematic review of population-based studies. Proton pump inhibitor therapy may provide freedom from these esophageal and extraesophageal manifestations of GERD.
Wahlqvist P et al. The impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease on health-related productivity. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2006;24:259–72.
GERD has a substantial impact on employee productivity, primarily by impairing productivity while working, as shown by this systematic literature review. Productivity loss was greatest in patients experiencing sleep disturbance because of GERD, and lowest in individuals taking appropriate prescription medication.
McColl E et al. Assessing symptoms in gastroesophageal reflux disease: how well do clinicians’ assessments agree with those of their patients? Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100:11–18.
The communication gap between doctors and patients is often felt but rarely studied. New research shows that agreement between physicians and patients is only modest, with physicians tending to underestimate the severity of reflux symptoms compared with patients.
Jones R et al. Validation of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Impact Scale – a patient management tool for primary care. Gastroenterology 2006;130 4 Suppl 2:M1974.
Many patients are reluctant to communicate their gastroesophageal reflux symptoms to the primary care physician. A short, patient-completed questionnaire can help describe the presence and impact of these symptoms.
Vakil N.The frontiers of reflux disease. Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51(11): 1887–1895
Analyses of two cross-sectional, case-control studies and a longitudinal, population-based study found that patients diagnosed with GERD had an increased risk of disorders of the upper and lower respiratory tract. However, it was not clear whether GERD preceded these conditions and no causal association could be established.
Jones R Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a re-appraisal. Br J Gen Pract 2006; 56(531): 739–740
When diagnosing GERD, primary care physicians should recognise that the patient's definition of 'troublesome' is most important. Notably, GERD is often accompanied by other problems such as sleep disturbances and chest pain.
Flook N, Unge P, Agréus L, et al. Approach to managing undiagnosed chest pain. Could gastroesophageal reflux disease be the cause? Can Fam Physician 2007; 53: 261–266 – GERD update
Approach to managing undiagnosed chest pain. Could gastroesophageal reflux disease be the cause? Can Fam Physician 2007; 53: 261–266 – GERD update.