[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.

[Development of the Russian version of quality of life questionnaire in patients with GERD - GERD-HRQL]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract with long course of the disease and followed by different symptoms significantly reducing quality of life (QoL) in pts. Assessment of QoL in pts with GERD may be of value for comprehensive evaluation of treatment effect as well as for monitoring of pts during treatment course in a real clinical practice.

AIM

Development of the Russian version of GERD-HRQL questionnaire to assess symptomatic outcomes of GERD in research and real clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

GERD-HRQL questionnaire (V. Velanovich, USA) consists of 11 items: 10 items for assessment of the most frequent symptoms/problems related with QoL in pts with GERD and 1 item for assessment of patient-reported global satisfaction with health condition.

RESULTS

In accordance with international guidelines, the new language version of the tool may be used in research and clinical practice after cross cultural adaptation, linguistic validation and psychometric testing. This paper presents the results of cross-cultural adaptation and linguistic validation of the Russian version of GERD-HRQL. The following steps of linguistic and cultural adaptation of GERD-HRQL for Russia were conducted after the permission from the author of GERD-HRQL was obtained: forward translation with creation of two forward translations of GERD-HRQL in Russian, reconciliation and expert evaluation of translations of GERD-HRQL in Russian and creation of the preliminary version of GERD-HRQL in Russian, back translation, harmonization, creation of the first test-version of GERD-HRQL in Russian, cognitive debriefing and decentering, creation of the second test-version of GERD-HRQL in Russian, final expert evaluation and development of the final test-version of GERD-HRQL in Russian. Satisfactory face validity of the Russian test-version of GERD-HRQL was shown: face validity indices were 0.98, 0.95, 0.92, and 0.97.

CONCLUSION

As the result of translation, cross cultural adaptation and linguistic validation, the Russian version of GERD-HRQL for the use in pts with GERD in Russia was developed. The Russian version of GERD-HRQL may be used in research studies and clinical practice after testing its psychometric properties.

Current advances in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a focus on esophageal protection

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is characterized by high morbidity and a significant decrease in the quality of life of patients, and is a major risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Nowadays, antisecretory therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) is the "gold standard" of conservative treatment of GERD, but in some cases this therapy is unsuccessful. According to various studies, the prevalence of refractory GERD can reach 30-40%. The latest scientific data in the field of genetics and pathophysiology of GERD demonstrate that a disruption of the barrier function of the esophageal mucosa and an increase of its permeability can be the leading causes of refractoriness. Thus, the optimal therapy for patients with GERD should not only suppress the secretion of hydrochloric acid, but also restore the barrier function of the mucous membrane, providing an esophagoprotective effect. To achieve these goals, Alfasoxx was developed, which consists of a mixture of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate dissolved in a bioadhesive carrier (poloxamer 407). The clinical efficacy of this product has been confirmed by three prospective, randomized, placebo - controlled trials. Alfasoxx has a healing and restorative effect towards the esophageal epithelium and due to high ability for bioadhesion provides long - term protection of the mucous membrane of the esophagus. Combination therapy for GERD with the use of PPI and an esophagoprotector offers new perspectives for the treatment of patients with GERD.

[Clinical assessment of the efficacy of early enteral nutrition with the help of "peptamen" nutriment in patients who underwent gastrectomy due to stomach cancer]

The protein-energetic insufficiency in cancer patients aggravates the course of the disease and leads to various complications in the post-operative period including lethal outcomes. The purpose of the study is to assess the efficiency of the use of the Peptamen compound in the early post-operative period in patients with moderate and serious degrees of protein-energetic insufficiency, who underwent gastrectomy due to stomach cancer. Two groups of patients were studied differing by the method of nutritional support. The use of the Peptamen compound in the early post-operative period leads to the improvement of the absorption of nutrients, increase in the functional activity of the intestine and immunomodulation, and as a result of this, to the reduction of post-operative complications and fast restoration of homeostasis.