title: A randomised prospective study comparing the effectiveness of esomeprazole treatment strategies in clinical practice for 6 months in the management of patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: One option for patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is treatment with proton pump inhibitors without prior endoscopy. Continuous or on-demand maintenance therapy are options for symptom-free patients. This study assessed the efficacy of three different treatment options in GERD patients in Norway. About 395 General Practitioners enrolled 2156 patients with symptoms of GERD in an open, randomised, parallel group trial. Following a 4-week symptom control phase [esomeprazole 40 mg once daily (od)], patients received either esomeprazole 20 mg od continuously or on-demand or ranitidine 150 mg twice-daily continuously for 6 months. The percentage of patients with no heartburn at the end of the study was maintained most effectively in the esomeprazole 20 mg continuous group (72.2%) and least effectively in the ranitidine group (32.5%). Significantly, more patients were completely/very satisfied with esomeprazole continuous (82.2%) and esomeprazole on-demand (75.4%) than with ranitidine continuous (33.5%) treatment (p < 0.0001). More patients were kept in remission, symptom free and were overall more satisfied with esomeprazole treatment than ranitidine.
authors.affiliation: Harbitzallèen Legesenter, Oslo, Norway. age.normanhansen@harbitzalleen.onh.no
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norman Hansen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergheim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fagertun
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D064098:Esomeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D064098:Esomeprazole