title: Response to gastroesophageal reflux disease therapy: assessment at 4 weeks predicts response/non-response at 8 weeks.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many questionnaires that assess subjective symptoms or health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have been developed to confirm the efficacy of treatment in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, few reports have correlated early improvements in scale scores with predictions of subsequent therapeutic responses. Our aim was to investigate the appropriate timing for evaluating therapeutic response and subsequent changes in symptoms and HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a post hoc analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study. A total of 5,279 GERD patients with Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD (FSSG) scores ≥ 8 points at baseline were analyzed. Correlations between HRQOL and FSSG were investigated and logistic regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FSSG scores and HRQOL improvements in responders were significantly greater than in non-responders. Positive correlation between FSSG and HRQOL was observed. Based on the analysis, severity of esophagitis at baseline, complications of hypertension, higher HRQOL mental score at baseline, and higher FSSG score at baseline were predictors of responders. Gastrectomy, complication of insomnia, and prior medication with proton pump inhibitors were predictors of non-responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluating patients' symptoms during the fourth week of rabeprazole therapy allows predictions of subsequent changes in subjective symptoms and HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Japan. mkusano@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Motoyasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hongo
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miwa
mesh_terms: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D064750:Rabeprazole; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D064750:Rabeprazole