Gastroesophageal reflux disease in primary care. Prevalence, epidemiology and Quality of Life of patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease in a large group of patients consulting their general practitioners (GP) for diverse reasons, as well as the quality-of-life (QoL) of patients with such symptoms.


METHODS
During the same day, participating GPs (N=3 200) systematically asked all of their patients about the presence of heartburn and regurgitation. For all patients who responded positively, the GPs filled in a questionnaire and the patient a specific QoL questionnaire.


RESULTS
Among 40 982 patients attending GP consultations, 4 124 (10.1%) had one or both symptoms. Prevalence was higher in men (11.1%) than in women (9.3%, P<0.001), and increased with age up to 50-59 yrs then slowly declined. Symptoms were present on a weekly basis in 72.8% of patients. Smoking, frequent or nocturnal occurrence of symptoms, regurgitation, and esophagitis were significantly linked up with a higher occurrence of extra-digestive symptoms (cough, ENT symptoms, chest pain). QoL declined with increasing frequency of symptoms, which especially affected food intake, psychology, well-being and daily life.


CONCLUSIONS
In France, typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease are observed in 10% of the adult population, and markedly alter their QoL.
Bruley Des Varannes
Stanislas
S
Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Nantes. bruley@easynet.fr
Marek
Lizzie
L
Humeau
Benoist
B
Lecasble
Marc
M
Colin
Raymond
R
D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life