Development and validation of a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: the GERD-QOL questionnaire

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in post-irradiated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 31 NPC and 12 control patients completed questionnaires for GERD/LPR before esophageal manometry and 24-h pH monitoring. The DeMeester score and reflux finding score (RFS) were used to define GERD and LPR, respectively. Risk factors were identified.

RESULTS

51.6% of NPC and 8.3% of control patients, and 77.4% of NPC and 33% of control patients, were GERD-positive and LPR-positive, respectively. The GERD/LPR questionnaire failed to identify either condition in patients with NPC. No parameter differences in esophageal manometry or pneumonia incidence were noted between GERD/LPR-positive and GERD/LPR-negative patients. Post radiotherapy duration, high BMI, lack of chemotherapy, and dysphagia were positive risk factors for GERD/LPR.

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of GERD/LPR in patients with post-irradiated NPC exists, but reflux symptoms are inadequate for diagnosis.

Comparative analysis of laparoscopic nissen fundoplication and rossetti modification in gastroesophageal reflux disease: A focus on life quality enhancement

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the focus of surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on enhancing life quality beyond symptom relief. The comparison involves laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and Rossetti modification techniques.

METHODS

Patients intolerant to or experiencing relapse after medical therapy underwent either standard Nissen procedure (Group 1, n = 61) or Rossetti modification (Group 2, n = 42). A disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for GERD was utilized for evaluating life quality preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. Symptom scores and patient satisfaction were also assessed.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, groups were similar in symptom duration, hiatal hernia presence, and DeMeester scores (p = 0.127, p = 0.427, and 0.584, respectively). Both groups exhibited a statistically significant increase in life quality postoperatively (p < 0.001), with no significant intergroup difference. Symptoms decreased after both surgeries, except for dysphagia and bloating. Bloating significantly increased in both groups after surgery (p = 0.018 and p = 0.017, respectively), and dysphagia increased significantly only in Group 2 (p = 0.007). The surgery refusal rate was significantly higher in Group 2 for similar preoperative symptoms (p = 0.040).

CONCLUSION

Despite increased life quality scores, the combination of increased dysphagia and bloating in patients undergoing Rossetti modification resulted in a decreased satisfaction rate.

Quality of life and severity of symptoms among patients with various degrees of reflux esophagitis: a prospective study

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause erosive esophagitis (EE) and compromise the quality of life (QoL). We examined differences in symptom severity and QoL according to EE severity grade. A follow-up study was conducted among GERD patients at the Nazareth Hospital in Israel. Patients underwent a baseline gastroscopy in 2014-2020 during which the EE grade was determined using the Los Angeles classification. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted during 2019-2020 with a mean time interval of 18.9 months (SD = 14.9) after the baseline gastroscopy to assess GERD symptoms using the Reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) and QoL using the GERD QoL questionnaire. The patients were interviewed in their native language (Arabic or Hebrew). Overall, 149 (66.4% males) patients were included; 50 had EE grades C/D and 99 had grades A/B. The mean age at baseline and follow-up was 44.6 years (SD = 15.1) and 46.2 years (SD = 14.9), respectively. Cronbach's alpha was 0.928 and 0.855 for the RDQ and QoL questionnaires, respectively. Patients with EE C/D grades had more severe symptoms than patients with EE A/B grades (P = 0.05), especially in regurgitation scores (P = 0.03). Females had more severe symptoms (overall) than males (adjusted OR = 2.34; 95% CI 1.12-4.90). Patients with the more severe esophagitis EE C/D group (adjusted OR = 1.98; 95% CI 0.93-4.24) and those who used PPIs treatment (adjusted OR = 2.19; 95% CI 0.95-5.01) reported more severe GERD symptoms. The number of schooling years was significantly associated with better QoL score (beta coefficient 1.33, P = 0.005) but not EE grade or GERD symptoms. Follow-up endoscopy conducted among 22 patients with EE grades C/D showed that 13 (59.1%) of these patients had normal endoscopic findings, 6 patients (27.3%) had a grade A EE, 1 patient (4.5%) had grade B, and 2 (9.1%) remained with grade C EE. The Arabic and Hebrew versions of the RDQ and QoL questionnaires were highly reliable. GERD symptoms severity was more profound among patients with more severe esophagitis. No significant association between EE grade and QoL; this negative result might be due to the improvement in esophagitis endoscopic findings among patients with C/D grade.

New Perspectives in Endoscopic Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease has a high incidence and prevalence in the general population. Clinical manifestations are heterogenous, and so is the response to medical treatment. Proton pump inhibitors are still the most common agents used to control reflux symptoms and for healing esophagitis, but they are not a one-size-fits-all solution for the disease. Patients with persistent troublesome symptoms despite medical therapy, those experiencing some adverse drug reaction, or those unwilling to take lifelong medications deserve valid alternatives. Anti-reflux Nissen fundoplication is an effective option, but the risk of adverse events has limited its spread. In recent years, advancements in therapeutic endoscopy have been made, and three major endoluminal alternatives are now available, including (1) the delivery of radiofrequency energy to the esophago-gastric junction, (2) transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), and (3) anti-reflux mucosal interventions (ARMI) based on mucosal resection (ARMS) and mucosal ablation (ARMA) techniques to remodel the cardia. Endoscopic techniques have shown interesting results, but their diffusion is still limited to expert endoscopists in tertiary centers. This review discusses the state of the art in the endoscopic approach to gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Systematic review of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) issues associated with gastric cancer: capturing cross-cultural differences

The treatment landscape for gastric cancer (GC) is constantly evolving with therapies affecting all aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) which need careful monitoring. While there are HRQoL measures designed specifically to capture issues relevant to patients with GC, these might be outdated and only relevant to patients in westernised cultures. This review identifies the patient-reported measures used to assess HRQoL of patients with GC and compares the HRQoL measures used across cultures including East Asia, where GC is more prevalent. We conducted a systematic review of publications between January 2001 and January 2021. A total of 267 papers were identified; the majority (66%) of studies involved patients from East Asian countries. Out of the 24 HRQoL questionnaires captured, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Cancer measure (QLQ-C30) was the most widely used (60% of all studies and 62% of those involving patients from East Asian countries), followed by its gastric cancer-specific module (QLQ-STO22, 34% of all studies and 41% from East Asia). Eight questionnaires were developed within East Asian countries and, of the 20 studies including bespoke questions, 16 were from East Asia. There were six qualitative studies. HRQoL issues captured include diarrhoea, constipation, reflux, abdominal pain and abdominal fulness or bloating, difficulty swallowing, restricted eating, and weight loss. Psychosocial issues related to these problems were also assessed. Issues relating to the compatibility of some of the westernised measures within East Asian cultures were highlighted.

The safety and efficacy of peroral endoscopic cardial constriction in gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common digestive disorders, which seriously affects the quality of life and brings a heavy burden to the medical care. Peroral endoscopic cardial constriction (PECC) can narrow the cardia through mucosal ligation to alleviate acid reflux symptoms. This study aims to assess the clinical efficacy of PECC.

METHODS

This was a retrospective case series including patients diagnosed with GERD and undergoing PECC from September 2019 to July 2021. GERD-Q questionnaire and GERD-QOL questionnaire were applied to evaluate the symptom severity and the impact of life because of GERD.

RESULTS

A total of 16 patients were included in our study. The mean GERD-Q score was 10.94 ± 2.11 before PECC, while 5.38 ± 3.90 after PECC. The mean GERD-QOL score was 43.60 ± 16.94 before PECC, while 73.65 ± 22.08 after PECC. 62.5% of patients were satisfied with the symptom control and no serious complications were reported in our study.

CONCLUSIONS

PECC is an efficient and safe minimally invasive endoscopic intervention for GERD. It can significantly improve GERD-related symptoms and quality of life.

The views of African and Middle Eastern Gastroenterologists on the management of mild-to-moderate, non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)

INTRODUCTION

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that occurs when backflow of the gastric contents into the esophagus results in troublesome symptoms. Though GERD has been extensively studied in Western populations, literature on the management of GERD in patients in Africa and Middle East (AME) is scarce.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we provide an overview of the management of mild-to-moderate GERD in AME. Here we focus on the efficacy and safety of currently available treatments for GERD to help physicians and community pharmacists appropriately manage patients with mild-to-moderate GERD in the primary healthcare setting, detailing specific situations and patient scenarios that are relevant to the region, including management of GERD during Ramadan and post-bariatric surgery.

EXPERT OPINION

Under-appreciation of the burden of GERD in the region has resulted in a lack of consensus on management. Barriers that currently prevent the adoption of treatment guidelines in the primary healthcare setting may include lack of availability of local guidelines and referral systems, a paucity of region-specific research, and dogmatic adherence to traditional practice. By increasing awareness, strengthening knowledge, and by more effective utilization of resources, physicians and pharmacists could optimize GERD management strategies to better support patients.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease - Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire: prospective development and validation in Italian

OBJECTIVE

To date, two questionnaires investigating the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (Quality of Life Reflux and Dyspepsia and Reflux Disease Questionnaire) are validated in Italian, but neither of the two questionnaires was correlated with an instrumental examination. The aim of the present study is to improve the GERD-Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaire, to evaluate the reliability and validity of its Italian translation, and its sensitivity and specificity.

METHODS

A modified Italian GERD-HRQL (MI-GERD-HRQL) questionnaire was developed adding six questions investigating on regurgitation, for a total of 15 questions. The forward-backward translation process was employed to obtain a definitive from-English-to-Italian version. Data obtained from the questionnaire were compared to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy findings.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was administered twice to 130 Italian-speaking patients by two different and independent raters. Cronbach's α of the first and second questionnaire was 0.944 and 0.942, respectively. Spearman correlation and inter-rater reliability were 0.923 and 0.929, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 73.3 and 64%, and 69.5 and 64%, respectively, for the first and second questionnaire.

CONCLUSION

The MI-GERD-HRQL questionnaire proved good consistency, reliability, sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of typical GERD symptoms.

[Testing and validation of the Russian version of quality of life questionnaire in patients with GERD - GERD-HRQL]

AIM

This study aimed to test the Russian version of GERD-HRQL in the focus group of patients with GERD, as well as to evaluate its psychometric properties reliability, validity and sensitivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total of 57 patients with GERD (mean age 45.812.4 years, 72% women, 68% patients with not erosive reflux disease, 84% had esophageal manifestations of GERD) were enrolled into the study. All the patients filled out the Russian version of GERD-HRQL and generic quality of life questionnaire RAND SF-36 during the routine visit to the gastroenterologist. According to the results of testing of GERD-HRQL, it was clear and easy to complete for patients and reflected the main concerns specific for GERD patients. The most frequent and bothersome symptoms/problems which interfered with quality of life in GERD patients were heartburn (100% of patients) and bloating (84% of patients). During the validation procedure, the high reliability and validity of the Russian version of GERD-HRQL were demonstrated. It was shown that the tool was sensitive both to changes over time and to clinically determined differences in patients status.

RESULTS

The Total GERD-HRQL Score was significantly higher (worse quality of life) in the following groups: a) patients who had esophageal manifestations of GERB vs those without esophageal manifestations of GERB; b) patients with GERD complications vs those without GERD complications, c) patients with comorbidities of upper gastrointestinal tract vs without those comorbidities; d) patients with erosive esophagitis vs with non-erosive reflux disease (p0.05).

CONCLUSION

The developed Russian version of the GERD-HRQL questionnaire proved to have high psychometric properties and may be used in the Russian population of GERD patients both in research studies and in a real clinical practice.

Fermented soy supplementation improves indicators of quality of life: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in adults experiencing heartburn

Objective

To determine if fermented soy supplementation relieves heartburn and improves gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life, a randomized, double-blind parallel study was conducted with adults experiencing mild or moderate heartburn. Participants consumed up to 3, 1 g sachets of flavored, Lactobacillus delbrueckii fermented with soy flour (n = 23) or placebo (maltodextrin) (n = 27) sachets per heartburn incident as needed for 3 weeks. Symptom intensity at 5, 15, and 30 min post-administration was assessed using a Likert-like scale. The Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) and Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (GERD-QOL) were administered at baseline, post-intervention and following a 1-week washout.

Results

No significant differences between groups were seen for heartburn severity or frequency, GSRS syndromes, or GERD-QOL domains. However, individual QOL items related to inconvenience of taking medications, fear of eating, inability to concentrate at work, and disturbance of after-meal activities and rest improved with fermented soy compared to placebo. Frequency of heartburn, diarrhea, and bloating improved during washout vs. baseline for the fermented soy group compared to placebo. Lactobacillus delbrueckii fermented soy supplementation improved QOL indicators and may decrease heartburn occurrence over time vs. an acute effect; efficacy of daily intake and longer duration requires investigation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-020-05205-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Randomized, Controlled, Pilot Study of CPAP for Patients with Chronic Cough and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

BACKGROUND

An association between chronic cough and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reported in prior studies with resolution or improvement in cough after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Controlled studies of the benefit of CPAP on cough-quality of life measures have not been conducted.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does CPAP therapy for OSA improve cough in patients with chronic unexplained cough?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients with unexplained chronic cough (> 2 months duration of cough) and OSA were randomized to receive either CPAP or sham CPAP therapy for 6 weeks. The primary end point was the change in health status assessed with the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) in patients treated with CPAP vs. sham CPAP. Secondary end points were changes in exhaled breath condensate markers of airway inflammation (interleukin-6, nitrite/nitrates, hydrogen peroxide and 8-isoprostanes).

RESULTS

A total of 22 patients with chronic unexplained cough and OSA were randomized of whom18 completed 6 weeks of treatments with either CPAP or sham CPAP. The CPAP vs. sham CPAP-treated group were comparable in terms of sex distribution, body mass index, and OSA severity. Following CPAP therapy, there was a significantly greater improvement in total LCQ scores as compared to those treated with sham therapy (ANCOVA p value 0.016). No significant differences were noted in the exhaled breath condensate marker changes between CPAP-treated vs. sham CPAP-treated groups.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of comorbid OSA in patients with chronic cough improved cough quality of life measures following treatment of OSA with CPAP in this pilot study. Larger studies to understand this association and unravel mechanisms of CPAP benefit in chronic cough need to be undertaken. Clinical Trial Registration NCT03172130.

Psychometric evaluation of a newly developed Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale

Background

Chronic constipation is a common symptom among the elderly, and it may affect their quality of life (QoL). A lack of available research focused on the elderly means that this effect is not well understood. This study aimed to develop and validate a new scale (Elderly-Constipation Impact Scale (E-CIS)) to measure the impact of chronic constipation on QoL among the elderly.

Methods

A pool of items was generated from a qualitative study, literature reviews, and expert reviews. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the original 40 items of the E-CIS and followed by 27 items for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A total of 470 elderly people with chronic constipation were involved.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 68.64 ± 6.57. Finally, only 22 items were indicated as appropriately representing the E-CIS, which were grouped into seven subscales: 'daily activities', 'treatment satisfaction', 'lack of control of bodily function', 'diet restriction', 'symptom intensity', 'anxiety' and 'preventive actions'. The scale was confirmed as valid (root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.04, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.961, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.952 and chi-square/degree of freedom (chiSq/df) = 1.44) and reliable (Cronbach's alpha: 0.66-0.85, composite reliability (CR) = 0.699-0.851) to assess the impact of chronic constipation on the elderly's QoL.

Conclusions

The E-CIS is useful to measure the impact of chronic constipation on the elderly's QoL. A further test is needed to determine the validity and reliability of this scale in other elderly population.

Herbal formula improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms and gut health in Australian adults with digestive disorders

Gastrointestinal (GI) problems affect half of Western populations. Symptoms can vary from frequent reflux to irritable bowel syndrome. The Nutrition Care (NC) Gut Relief Formula contains a combination of herbs and nutrients including curcumin, Aloe vera, slippery elm, guar gum, pectin, peppermint oil, and glutamine shown to benefit the GI system. The 16-week pre-post study tested the hypothesis that the NC Gut Relief Formula would be tolerable and effective in improving GI symptoms and gut health in adults with digestive disorders. A total of 43 participants completed the study. After a control phase, participants took 5 g/d and then 10 g/d of the formula for 4 weeks. GI symptoms and GI health were assessed by a series of validated questionnaires, for example, Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire, Bristol Stool Chart, Birmingham IBS Symptom Questionnaire, and by intestinal permeability and gut microbiota profile. The NC Gut Relief Formula significantly improved the frequency and severity of upper and lower GI symptoms by 60%-80%, including indigestion, heartburn, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, and troublesome flatulence, and significantly improved physical functioning, energy levels, mood, and sleep by 60%-80%. All participants with normal stool, 90% with hard stool, and 66% with soft stool recovered from intestinal permeability, evident by normal lactulose to mannitol ratios. The NC Gut Relief Formula generally improved microbial profile, with a marked increase in Lactobacillus, Clostridium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Almost half of the participants with upper GI symptoms taking proton pump inhibitors for heartburn no longer required proton pump inhibitors at the end of the study. A third of participants were able to reintroduce food triggers, such as fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols garlic, onion, and beans, or reflux-causing acidic/spicy foods, for example, citrus, tomato, and caffeine, in their diet after 3 months without symptom aggravation. The NC Gut Relief Formula significantly improved GI symptoms and associated quality of life over 3 months while reducing intestinal permeability, improving the microbial profile, reducing the need for reflux medication, and enabling the consumption of previous food triggers.

Validity and reliability of patient section of evidence-based medical records about doctor-patient building through integrated therapy of traditional Chinese and Western medicine (DPEBMR-P) in patients with gastrointestinal diseases

Background

We developed an evidence-based medical record for doctor-patient relationship building through an integrated therapy of traditional Chinese and Western medicine (DPEBMR) to assess the efficacy in patients with digestive system diseases. The instrument was categorized into a doctor section and a patient section. In this article, our main goal was to test the validity and reliability of the patient's section for DPEBMR (DPEBMR-P).

Methods

One hundred patients were recruited. Doctors and patients used a predefined format to jointly record the illness. Cronbach's α and factor analysis were used to evaluate the reliability and structure validity, respectively.

Results

Cronbach's α of all 12 items from DPEBMR-P was 0.906, which demonstrated high reliability. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was 0.811 and Bartlett's spherical test value was 452.2 (P<0.05), which meant it was suitable for performing factor analysis. A total of 3 items were identified as factors, and each had high loading: items of mental status (0.584 to 0.833), items of therapeutic effect (0.518 to 0.797), and items of appetite (0.857 to 0.882).

Conclusions

The DPEBMR-P indicated substantial reliability and structure validity.

Development and Psychometric Assessment of a Self-evaluation Questionnaire for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Background/Aims

There is uncertainty about how to measure outcomes reported by patients in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study was conducted to develop an instrument and to determine of the definition of respondent for a patient reported outcomes to assess the efficacy of a treatment used for GERD treatment.

Methods

A structural process has developed a self-evaluation questionnaire for GERD (SEQ-GERD); health-related quality of life questionnaire for GERD (GERD-QOL) was translated through cross-cultural validation. Two-week reproducibility was evaluated and construct validity was assessed by correlating the SEQ-GERD with the Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Disorders (PAGI-SYM), the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ), and GERD-QOL. Changes in SEQ-GERD scores were compared to assess the discriminative validity following 4 weeks of proton pump inhibitor administration.

Results

A total of 83 Korean patients were included (mean age 46 ± 14 years, females 61.4%). The internal consistency of the 19-item SEQ-GERD was good (alpha = 0.60–0.94) and the test–retest reliability was high (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.67–0.95). The SEQ-GERD highly correlated with the GERD domain of the PAGI-SYM (correlation coefficient r = 0.894, P < 0.001), the RDQ-GERD (r = 0.877, P < 0.001), and GERD-QOL (r =−0.536, P < 0.05). SEQ-GERD scores significantly varied according to the overall treatment effectiveness scale of drug responsiveness and significantly decreased after drug treatment (mean differences according to the overall treatment effectiveness scale, P = 0.020).

Conclusion

This study supports that SEQ-GERD is reliable and valid, and can be used to evaluate the treatment response in patients with GERD.

THE EFFICACY OF THE DIFFERENT ENDOSCOPIC TREATMENTS VERSUS SHAM, PHARMACOLOGIC OR SURGICAL METHODS FOR CHRONIC GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Endoscopic antireflux treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are still evolving, and most of the published studies address symptom relief in the short-term. Objective - We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis focused on evaluating the efficacy of the different endoscopic procedures. METHODS: Search was restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on MedLine, Cochrane, SciELO, and EMBASE for patients with chronic GERD (>6 months), over 18 years old and available follow up of at least 3 months. The main outcome was to evaluate the efficacy of the different endoscopic treatments compared to sham, pharmacological or surgical treatment. Efficacy was measured by different subjective and objective outcomes. RESULTS: We analyzed data from 16 RCT, totaling 1085 patients. The efficacy of endoscopic treatments compared to sham and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) treatment showed a significant difference up to 6 months in favor of endoscopy with no heterogeneity (P<0.00001) (I2: 0%). The subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant difference up to 6 months in favor of endoscopy: endoscopy vs PPI (P<0.00001) (I2: 39%). Endoscopy vs sham (P<0.00001) (I2: 0%). Most subjective and objective outcomes were statistically significant in favor of endoscopy up to 6 and 12 months follow up. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis shows a good short-term efficacy in favor of endoscopic procedures when comparing them to a sham and pharmacological or surgical treatment. Data on long-term follow up is lacking and this should be explored in future studies.

Acid Secretion and Its Relationship to Esophageal Reflux Symptom in Patients with Subtotal Gastrectomy

BACKGROUND

Esophageal reflux symptom has been reported as common in patients with subtotal gastrectomy. Management of postoperative esophageal reflux symptom is not satisfactory. The aim of this study is to investigate prevalence of esophageal reflux symptom after subtotal gastrectomy and assess factors affecting esophageal reflux symptom in subtotal gastrectomy patients.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled 100 consecutive patients with subtotal gastrectomy who were regularly followed up by endoscopic examination. Acid secretory capacity was assessed by measuring messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of H⁺/K⁺-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

In total, 47 % of patients had typical esophageal reflux symptom, where heartburn or regurgitation was experienced at least weekly. Age, sex, body mass index, and type of reconstruction did not differ between esophageal reflux and non-esophageal-reflux groups. The esophageal reflux group had longer duration from time of operation until study (median 5.0 versus 3.6 years; P = 0.017). Hill grade for gastroesophageal (GE) flap valve was higher in the esophageal reflux group than in the non-esophageal-reflux group (P = 0.027). H⁺/K⁺-ATPase mRNA expression was higher in the esophageal reflux group than in the non-esophageal-reflux group [3967.6 (± 7583.7) versus 896.2 (± 1456.0); P = 0.006]. Multivariate analysis revealed that postoperative duration, H⁺/K⁺-ATPase mRNA expression level, and GE flap valve disruption were significantly associated with esophageal reflux symptom development.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophageal reflux symptom is common in patients after subtotal gastrectomy, possibly because of anti-reflux-barrier impairment and preservation of acid secretory capacity following surgery. Optimal acid suppression may be helpful in managing postoperative esophageal reflux symptom.

A novel murine model of esophageal nonerosive reflux disease: from inflammation to impairment in mucosal integrity

Nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is a highly prevalent phenotype of the gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this study, we developed a novel murine model of NERD in mice with microscopic inflammation and impairment in the epithelial esophageal barrier. Female Swiss mice were subjected to the following surgical procedure: the transitional region between the forestomach and the glandular portion of the stomach was ligated, and a nontoxic ring was placed around the duodenum near the pylorus. The control group underwent sham surgery. The animals were euthanized at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery. Survival and body weight were monitored daily. Esophageal wet weight, macroscopic lesion, histopathological alterations, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, cytokine levels, transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), and mucosal permeability were evaluated. The survival rate was 78% at 14 days, with mild loss in body weight. Surgery did not induce erosive esophagitis but instead induced microscopic inflammation and increased esophageal wet weight, IL-6, keratinocyte-derived cytokine (KC) levels, and MPO activity with maximal peak between 3 and 7 days and resolution at 14 days postsurgery. Epithelial esophageal barrier was evaluated in operated mice at 7 and 14 days postsurgery; a decrease in TEER and increase in the esophageal epithelial permeability were observed compared with the sham-operated group. In addition, the inhibition of acid secretion with omeprazole significantly prevented the esophageal inflammation and impairment of barrier function at 7 days postsurgery. Thus we established a novel experimental model of NERD in mice, which can contribute to understanding the pathophysiological events associated with NERD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we standardized an experimental model of nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) in mice. This model involves an acute inflammatory response followed by impaired esophageal mucosal integrity, even in the absence of inflammation. Thus this model can serve for evaluation of pathophysiological aspects of NERD and open new perspectives for therapeutic strategies for patients with this disorder.

Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication for Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Where Do We Stand?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic, progressive, and costly medical condition affecting a substantial proportion of the world population, predominantly the Western population. The available treatment options for patients with refractory GERD symptoms are limited to either laparoscopic surgery with significant sequelae or potentially lifelong, high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy. The restoration of the antireflux competence of the gastroesophageal junction at the anatomic and physiologic levels is critical for the effective long-term treatment of GERD. Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) surgery is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment that has yielded significant symptomatic improvement in patients with medically refractory GERD symptoms. In this review article, we have summarized case series and reports describing the role of TIF for patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The reported indications, techniques, complications, and success rates are also discussed.

Development of an online library of patient-reported outcome measures in gastroenterology: the GI-PRO database

OBJECTIVES

Because gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses can cause physical, emotional, and social distress, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are used to guide clinical decision making, conduct research, and seek drug approval. It is important to develop a mechanism for identifying, categorizing, and evaluating the over 100 GI PROs that exist. Here we describe a new, National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported, online PRO clearinghouse-the GI-PRO database.

METHODS

Using a protocol developed by the NIH Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS(®)), we performed a systematic review to identify English-language GI PROs. We abstracted PRO items and developed an online searchable item database. We categorized symptoms into content "bins" to evaluate a framework for GI symptom reporting. Finally, we assigned a score for the methodological quality of each PRO represented in the published literature (0-20 range; higher indicates better).

RESULTS

We reviewed 15,697 titles (κ>0.6 for title and abstract selection), from which we identified 126 PROs. Review of the PROs revealed eight GI symptom "bins": (i) abdominal pain, (ii) bloat/gas, (iii) diarrhea, (iv) constipation, (v) bowel incontinence/soilage, (vi) heartburn/reflux, (vii) swallowing, and (viii) nausea/vomiting. In addition to these symptoms, the PROs covered four psychosocial domains: (i) behaviors, (ii) cognitions, (iii) emotions, and (iv) psychosocial impact. The quality scores were generally low (mean 8.88 ± 4.19; 0 (min)-20 (max). In addition, 51% did not include patient input in developing the PRO, and 41% provided no information on score interpretation.

CONCLUSIONS

GI PROs cover a wide range of biopsychosocial symptoms. Although plentiful, GI PROs are limited by low methodological quality. Our online PRO library (www.researchcore.org/gipro/) can help in selecting PROs for clinical and research purposes.

Systematic review: questionnaires for assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Numerous questionnaires with a wide variety of characteristics have been developed for the assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Four well-defined dimensions are noticeable in these GERD questionnaires, which are symptoms, response to treatment, diagnosis, and burden on the quality of life of GERD patients. The aim of this review is to develop a complete overview of all available questionnaires, categorized per dimension of the assessment of GERD. A systematic search of the literature up to January 2013 using the Pubmed database and the Embase database, and search of references and conference abstract books were conducted. A total number of 65 questionnaires were extracted and evaluated. Thirty-nine questionnaires were found applicable for the assessment of GERD symptoms, three of which are generic gastrointestinal questionnaires. For the assessment of response to treatment, 14 questionnaires were considered applicable. Seven questionnaires with diagnostic purposes were found. In the assessment of quality of life in GERD patients, 18 questionnaires were found and evaluated. Twenty questionnaires were found to be used for more than one assessment dimension, and eight questionnaires were found for GERD assessment in infants and/or children. A wide variety of GERD questionnaires is available, of which the majority is used for assessment of GERD symptoms. Questionnaires differ in aspects such as design, validation and translations. Also, numerous multidimensional questionnaires are available, of which the Reflux Disease Questionnaire is widely applicable. We provided an overview of GERD questionnaires to aid investigators and clinicians in their search for the most appropriate questionnaire for their specific purposes.

Patient-reported outcomes in gastroenterology: clinical and research applications

Patient-generated reports, also known as Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs), capture the patients' illness experience in a structured format and may help bridge the gap between patients and providers. PROs measure any aspect of patient-reported health (e.g., physical, emotional or social symptoms) and can help to direct care and improve clinical outcomes. When clinicians systematically collect patient-reported data in the right place at the right time, PRO measurement can effectively aid in detection and management of conditions, improve satisfaction with care and enhance the patient-provider relationship. This review article summarizes the latest approaches to PRO measuring for clinical trials and clinical practice, with a focus on use of PROs in gastroenterology.

Laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy achieved lesser recurrent dysphagia with better quality of life when compared with endoscopic balloon dilatation for treatment of achalasia

Achalasia is a rare primary motility disorder of esophagus; treatments include endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) and laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy (LC). This study compared EBD versus LC for treatment of achalasia with focus on quality of life (QoL) and prevalence of post-treatment gastroesophageal reflux disease. This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with achalasia older than 16 treated with either EBD or LC from January 1998 to April 2008. Patients' demographic data, comorbidities, postintervention GERD symptoms, QoL, recurrence of dysphagia, reintervention rate, hospital stay, and time to resumption of diet were collected. Sixty-eight patients were recruited into the study (EBD n= 50; LC n= 18). A significant improvement in QoL was found in patients undergoing LC (0.917 vs. 0.807, P= 0.006). A higher proportion of patients treated with EBD developed post-treatment gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (60.5% vs. 43.8%) when compared with LC, although statistically insignificant (P= 0.34). Patients treated with balloon dilatation had a greater percentage of recurrence of dysphagia (55.1% vs. 26.7%; P= 0.235) and need of reintervention (42.1% vs. 9.1%; P= 0.045). However, these patients had a shorter median hospital stay (1d [range 0-4]) and earlier resumption of diet (0d [range 0-3]). Although EBD is associated with a quicker perioperative recovery, LC accomplished a better QoL, lower incidence of recurrence of dysphagia, and need of reintervention after treatment for achalasia.

The Diagnostic Significance of Coapplying a Rabeprazole Test with the SF-36 for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a diversity disease that affects life quality of people in the world. Due to the complicated pathogenesis and variations in clinical manifestations, there is still no true gold standard for GERD diagnosis, and it is still difficult to diagnose this disease in some patients. The proton pump inhibitor's diagnostic test (the PPI test) is noninvasive, of low cost, tied to treatment, and widely accepted. Our aim is to evaluate the diagnostic significance of coapplying a rabeprazole test with the SF-36 for GERD in this study. Our study shows that the SF-36 in combination with the rabeprazole test can screen GERD patients and increase the sensitivity and specificity of GERD diagnosis through reference to the change in SF-36 score before and after the treatment (65 in the trial).

Treatment of functional dyspepsia with sertraline: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled pilot study

AIM: To evaluate sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia.

METHODS: Consecutive tertiary hospital patients with a clinical diagnosis of functional dyspepsia (FD) according to the Rome II criteria with a Hong Kong dyspepsia index (HKDI) of greater than 16 were recruited. Patients commenced enrolment prior to the inception of the Rome III criteria for functional dyspepsia. All patients were ethnic Chinese, had a normal upper endoscopy and were Helicobacter pylori negative prior to enrolment. Study patients were randomized to receive sertraline 50 mg or placebo daily for 8 wk. HKDI symptom scores, quality of life, hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale and global symptom relief were evaluated before, during and after treatment. Adverse effects were monitored during and after treatment.

RESULTS: A total of 193 patients were randomized in the intention to treat (ITT), and 150 patients were included in the per protocol (PP) analysis. In both the ITT and PP, there was no difference in the primary outcome of global dyspepsia symptoms between the sertraline and placebo groups at week 8. In the ITT analysis, 98 and 95 patients were randomized to the sertraline and placebo groups respectively. A total of 43 patients withdrew from the study (22.3%) by week 8, with 23 of the 24 drop-outs in the sertraline group occurring prior to week 4 (95.8%). In contrast, in the placebo arm, 11 of 19 patients dropped out by week 4 (57.9%). Utilizing the last response carried forward to account for the drop-outs, there were no differences between the sertraline and placebo groups at baseline in terms of the HKDI, HKDI 26.08 ± 6.19 vs 26.70 ± 5.89, P = 0.433; and at week 8, HKDI 22.41 ± 6.36 vs 23.25 ± 7.30, P = 0.352 respectively. In the PP analysis, 74 and 76 patients were randomized to the sertraline and placebo groups respectively. At baseline, there were no statistically significant differences between the sertraline and placebo groups, HKDI 25.83 ± 6.313 vs 27.19 ± 5.929 respectively, P = 0.233; however by week 8, patients in the sertraline group demonstrated a statistically significant difference in their Hong Kong Dyspepsia Index compared to placebo, HKDI 20.53 ± 6.917 vs 23.34 ± 7.199, P = 0.02, respectively). There was also no statistically significant difference in overall quality of life measures or the HAD scale related to treatment in either the ITT or PP analysis at week 8.

CONCLUSION: This pilot study, the first to examine sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, for the management of FD, did not find that it was superior to placebo.

Treatment of non-erosive reflux disease with a proton pump inhibitor in Chinese patients: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence suggests that rates of gastroesophageal reflux disease are increasing in the Asia-Pacific region, where patients tend to have predominantly non-erosive reflux disease as opposed to erosive (reflux) esophagitis. At present, data for the responsiveness of non-erosive reflux disease to proton pump inhibition are scant. We aimed to study esomeprazole for the treatment of non-erosive reflux disease in Chinese patients.

METHODS

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux, and a locally validated reflux index, the Chinese GerdQ, of equal to or greater than 12 were recruited and randomized to receive esomeprazole 20 mg daily or placebo for 8 weeks. Reflux index scores, quality of life (SF-36), and the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale and symptom relief were evaluated before, during, and after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 175 patients were randomized. Patients in the esomeprazole group (n = 85) demonstrated statistically significant reductions in their GerdQ index, from 19.45 to 15.37 and to 14.32 (p = 0.013, p = 0.005) at weeks 4 and 8, respectively. Compared to placebo at week 8, 57.1% of patients on esomeprazole found that their symptoms had resolved or were acceptable compared with 37.2% in the placebo group (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in overall quality-of-life measures or the HAD scale related to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that esomeprazole is efficacious in treating Chinese patients with non-erosive reflux disease.

Questionnaire based gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) assessment scales

Questionnaire based assessment scales for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been utilized for assessment of the patient's symptomatology, assessment of symptom severity and frequency, assessment of health-related quality of life and for assessment of response to treatment. A multitude of unidimensional and multidimensional questionnaires exist for making symptom assessment and monitoring quality of life in GERD. Many of the scales meet some of the parameters of an ideal evaluative GERD specific assessment instrument. Yet, there are certain shortcomings and challenges which are faced in development of GERD questionnaires. This review discusses the features of an ideal symptom assessment instrument, examines the strengths and weaknesses of currently available questionnaires.