OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of the reflux diagnostic questionnaire (RDQ) in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with heartburn, substernal pain, acid reflux and regurgitation in 10 hospitals in China were assessed. Each symptom was scored according to severity and frequency (five scales). The highest score was 40. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 24-h esophageal pH monitoring were carried out in patients with symptom scores of more than six, and results were compared with the RDQ score to determine the critical value for diagnosis of GERD. RESULTS: The RDQ score correlated positively with the severity of reflux esophagitis. Esophageal pH monitoring showed that patients with abnormal RDQ had higher DeMeester scores compared with those with normal RDQ scores (20.18 vs 16.84). Taking 12 as the critical RDQ score for GERD, achieved a maximal Youden index. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.71, the true positive diagnostic rate was 88.07%, and the true negative diagnostic rate was 68.42% with a sensitivity of 94.12% and specificity of 50%. CONCLUSION: The RDQ might be a useful screening test for GERD.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of the reflux diagnostic questionnaire (RDQ) in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with heartburn, substernal pain, acid reflux and regurgitation in 10 hospitals in China were assessed. Each symptom was scored according to severity and frequency (five scales). The highest score was 40. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 24-h esophageal pH monitoring were carried out in patients with symptom scores of more than six, and results were compared with the RDQ score to determine the critical value for diagnosis of GERD. RESULTS: The RDQ score correlated positively with the severity of reflux esophagitis. Esophageal pH monitoring showed that patients with abnormal RDQ had higher DeMeester scores compared with those with normal RDQ scores (20.18 vs 16.84). Taking 12 as the critical RDQ score for GERD, achieved a maximal Youden index. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.71, the true positive diagnostic rate was 88.07%, and the true negative diagnostic rate was 68.42% with a sensitivity of 94.12% and specificity of 50%. CONCLUSION: The RDQ might be a useful screening test for GERD.