Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms during and after pregnancy: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS) increases during pregnancy, but there are no longitudinal studies on western populations examining their incidence in each trimester. Our aim was to describe the natural history of GERS in pregnancy and to ascertain whether pregnancy might be associated with a higher risk of developing GERS 1 yr postpartum.


METHODS
Pregnant women (<12 wk gestation) and age-matched controls were included. A telephone survey was conducted, covering pregnant women at 12, 24, and 36 wk of gestation and at 1 yr postpartum, using a validated questionnaire. Controls were interviewed at baseline and 21 months later.


RESULTS
Data on 263 pregnant women were analyzed. Incidence of GERS was 25.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.1-31.1%) in the first trimester, 24.3% (95% CI 18.1-30.6%) in the second, and 25.5% (95% CI 18.2-32.8%) in the third. Factors associated with developing GERS in the first trimester were South American origin (odds ratio [OR] 2.75, 95% CI 1.30-5.84) and prepregnancy occasional GERS (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.35-6.66). Risk factors of GERS in the third trimester were cumulative weight gain during pregnancy (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04-1.32) and prepregnancy occasional GERS (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.08-13.24). Incidence of frequent GERS at 1 yr postpartum was higher in pregnant versus control women (4.7%vs 1.3%, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence of GERS is similar across the three trimesters of pregnancy. Accumulated weight gain during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of GERS in the third trimester. Pregnancy might constitute a risk factor for developing GERS 1 yr postpartum.
Department of Digestive Diseases, San Carlos University Teaching Hospital, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Enrique
E
Rey
Fernando
F
Rodriguez-Artalejo
Miguel Angel
MA
Herraiz
Puy
P
Sanchez
Angel
A
Alvarez-Sanchez
Manuel
M
Escudero
Manuel
M
Diaz-Rubio
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain