Prevalence and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children and adolescents: a nationwide cross-sectional observational study.
This cross-sectional observational study aimed to determine the nationwide prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in French children and adolescents. Four hundred four general practitioners and 180 paediatricians compiled a register of all children and adolescents (n = 10,394, aged 0 to 17 years, mean 3.8 ± 5.6 years) who presented over two 3-day periods. For all children who, in the physician's opinion, showed symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GOR), a 24-item questionnaire covering the history and management of GOR was completed. Children with symptoms that impaired their daily lives were defined as having GORD, the remainder as having physiological GOR. Of the patients, 15.1 % showed GOR symptoms. Extrapolation to the overall French population yielded a prevalence of 10.3 % for GOR and 6.2 % for GORD. There was a significantly (p < 0.05) greater use of volume reduction or milk thickeners and dorsal positioning among infants with GORD versus physiological GOR. Significantly (p < 0.05) more of the infants and children with GORD received pharmacological therapy. The use of proton pump inhibitors increased with age but was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among those with GORD.


CONCLUSIONS
Ten percent of French children and adolescents show GOR symptoms and 6 % have GORD. Clinical presentation and treatment vary in different age groups, but those with GORD are more likely to require pharmacological treatment.
Unité Inserm U995, Service de Gastroentérologie, Hépatologie et Nutrition Pédiatrique, Pôle Enfant, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHRU de Lille, Avenue Eugène Avinée, 59037 Lille Cedex, France.
Léonie
L
Martigne
Pierre-Henri
PH
Delaage
Florence
F
Thomas-Delecourt
Geneviève
G
Bonnelye
Philippe
P
Barthélémy
Frédéric
F
Gottrand
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors