title: Impact of persistent, frequent regurgitation on quality of life in heartburn responders treated with acid suppression: a multinational primary care study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn responds well to acid suppression, but regurgitation is a common cause of incomplete treatment response.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and burden of persistent, frequent regurgitation in primary care patients with GERD treated with acid suppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed observational data from 134 sites across six European countries in patients diagnosed with GERD. Within 3 months of the index visit, symptoms were assessed using the Reflux Disease Questionnaire, and their impact on sleep and work productivity with the Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, respectively. Patients provided information on concomitant over-the-counter (OTC) GERD medication use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persistent, frequent (3-7 days/week) regurgitation was reported by 13.2% (153/1156) of GERD patients with no heartburn on acid suppression; the prevalence was very similar for patients with up to 2 days/week of ongoing mild heartburn. Among patients without heartburn, sleep disturbance of any type was reported by 50.7-60.1% with persistent, frequent regurgitation, compared with 38.1-51.1% and 14.4-19.2% of those with less frequent or no regurgitation respectively. Persistent, frequent regurgitation was associated with increased use of OTC medication and more hours of work missed, whether mild, infrequent heartburn was present or not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequent regurgitation, which persisted in 12-13% of patients with no or infrequent, mild heartburn on acid suppression, negatively affected sleep and work productivity, and increased use of OTC medication. Persistent, frequent regurgitation is problematic for primary care patients with GERD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. p-kahrilas@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kahrilas
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Howden
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wernersson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Denison
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nuevo
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gisbert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006304:Health Status; D006356:Heartburn / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents