title: [Burden of illness in Polish patients with reflux disease].
abstract: The clinical and socioeconomic burden of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is considerable. The primary symptom of GERD is heartburn, but it may also be associated with extraesophageal manifestations, such as asthma, chest pain and otolaryngologic disorders. The objective of the study was to describe the impact of heartburn on patients' Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) in Poland, using validated generic and disease-specific instruments to measure patient-reported outcomes. Patients with symptoms of heartburn completed the Polish versions of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), the Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire (QOLRAD), the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Frequency and severity of heartburn during the previous 7 days were also recorded. 135 patients completed the assessments (mean age of 44 years, SD = 15; 61% female). 55% of patients had moderate symptoms and nearly two thirds (64%) had symptoms on 5 or more days in the previous week. Patients were most bothered by symptoms of reflux (mean GSRS score of 4.1, on a scale of 1 [not bothered] to 7 [very bothered]), indigestion (3.5) and abdominal pain (3.2). As a result of their symptoms, patients experienced impaired vitality (mean QOLRAD score of 3.8, on a scale of 1 to 7, where 1 represents the most severe impact on daily functioning), problems with food and drink (3.9), emotional distress (4.1) and sleep disturbance (4.7). Using HAD, 32% of heartburn patients were anxious and 10% were depressed. In conclusion it should be stated that there is consistent evidence that GERD substantially impairs all aspects of health-related quality of life.
authors: Klinika Gastroenterologii CMKP, Centrum Onkologii Instytut im. Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie, Warszawa. jregula@coi.waw.pl
authors: Jarosław
authors: J
authors: Reguła
authors: Károly R
authors: KR
authors: Kulich
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Stasiewicz
authors: Bolesław
authors: B
authors: Jasiński
authors: Jonas
authors: J
authors: Carlsson
authors: Ingela
authors: I
authors: Wiklund
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards