Ryan Broderick1, Karl-Hermann Fuchs2, Wolfram Breithaupt3, Gabor Varga3, Thomas Schulz3, Benjamin Babic4, Arielle Lee1, Frauke Musial5, Santiago Horgan1. 1. Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA. 2. Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA, Karl-Hermann.Fuchs@gmx.de. 3. Department of General- and Viszeral-Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Krankenhaus, Frankfurt, Germany. 4. Department of Surgery, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 5. NAFKAM Department of Community Medicine Unit, The Artic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Symptoms occurring in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) such as heartburn, regurgitation, thoracic pain, epigastric pain, respiratory symptoms, and others can show a broad overlap with symptoms from other foregut disorders. The goal of this study is the accurate assessment of symptom presentation in GERD. METHODS: Patients with foregut symptoms were investigated for symptoms as well as endoscopy and gastrointestinal-functional studies for presence of GERD and symptom evaluation by standardized questionnaire. Questionnaire included a graded evaluation of foregut symptoms documenting severity and frequency of each symptom. The three types of questionnaires include study nurse solicitated, self-reported, and free-form self-reported by the patient. RESULTS: For this analysis, 1,031 GERD patients (572 males and 459 females) were enrolled. Heartburn was the most frequently reported chief complaint, seen in 61% of patients. Heartburn and regurgitation are the most common (82.4/58.8%, respectively) in overall symptom prevalence. With regard to modification in questionnaire technique, if patients fill in responses without prompting, there is a trend toward more frequent documentation of respiratory symptoms (up to 54.5% [p < 0.01]), fullness (up to 93.9%), and gas-related symptoms (p < 0.001). Self-reported symptoms are more diverse (e.g., throat-burning [12%], mouth-burning [9%], globus [6%], dyspnea [9%], and fatigue [7%]). CONCLUSIONS: GERD symptoms are commonly heartburn and regurgitation, but overall symptom profile for patients may change depending on the type of questionnaire.
INTRODUCTION: Symptoms occurring in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) such as heartburn, regurgitation, thoracic pain, epigastric pain, respiratory symptoms, and others can show a broad overlap with symptoms from other foregut disorders. The goal of this study is the accurate assessment of symptom presentation in GERD. METHODS:Patients with foregut symptoms were investigated for symptoms as well as endoscopy and gastrointestinal-functional studies for presence of GERD and symptom evaluation by standardized questionnaire. Questionnaire included a graded evaluation of foregut symptoms documenting severity and frequency of each symptom. The three types of questionnaires include study nurse solicitated, self-reported, and free-form self-reported by the patient. RESULTS: For this analysis, 1,031 GERDpatients (572 males and 459 females) were enrolled. Heartburn was the most frequently reported chief complaint, seen in 61% of patients. Heartburn and regurgitation are the most common (82.4/58.8%, respectively) in overall symptom prevalence. With regard to modification in questionnaire technique, if patients fill in responses without prompting, there is a trend toward more frequent documentation of respiratory symptoms (up to 54.5% [p < 0.01]), fullness (up to 93.9%), and gas-related symptoms (p < 0.001). Self-reported symptoms are more diverse (e.g., throat-burning [12%], mouth-burning [9%], globus [6%], dyspnea [9%], and fatigue [7%]). CONCLUSIONS:GERD symptoms are commonly heartburn and regurgitation, but overall symptom profile for patients may change depending on the type of questionnaire.