Sleep dysfunction in patients with GERD: erosive versus nonerosive reflux disease.
BACKGROUND
Sleep disturbance has been observed in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but very few studies have further characterized sleep quality in patients with nonerosive esophageal reflux disease (NERD). This study was undertaken to investigate whether there are differences in sleep quality among patients with erosive esophagitis, NERD, and control subjects.


METHODS
We performed symptom severity scoring and upper GI endoscopy in 20 healthy control subjects and 35 GERD patients, including 17 with NERD and 18 with erosive esophagitis. Sleep quality was measured by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).


RESULTS
Sleep disturbance was noted in 11 of 17 NERD patients and 12 of 18 patients with erosive esophagitis (P = NS) but none of healthy control subjects. The patient groups, erosive esophagitis and NERD, had greater PSQI scores compared with healthy control subjects (both P < 0.05). Both groups had similar median PSQI score (5.5 vs 6.0; NERD vs erosive esophagitis; P = NS). There was no significant correlation between reflux symptom severity score and PSQI score.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite no difference in sleep quality between erosive esophagitis and NERD, NERD can have a significant impact on sleep comparable to erosive esophagitis. It is suggested that NERD should be treated aggressively and at least similarly to erosive esophagitis.
Yi
Chih-Hsun
CH
Department of Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi Hospital and University School of Medicine, Hualien, Taiwan.
Hu
Chi-Tan
CT
Chen
Chien-Lin
CL
D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*