Expert Recommendations on Optimizing the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Associated with Comorbidities in the Indian Population.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is among the most prevalent gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. It is known to often coexist with other chronic diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hypertension. Upper endoscopy, esophageal manometry, and impedance-pH monitoring are a few invasive diagnostic options that are reserved for selected GERD patients. Symptom assessment by using questionnaires, such as the frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG), is simple, convenient, noninvasive, and inexpensive. These questionnaires are widely used to facilitate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Early diagnosis of GERD and timely management may improve clinical outcomes in patients. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the preferred therapy for GERD. However, evidence indicates that excessive and extended use of PPIs is linked to adverse events. An overview of the diagnosis and management of GERD, as well as an evidence-based overview of the relationship between GERD and asthma, COPD, obesity, DM, and hypertension, is presented in this review. Expert opinions and recommendations for diagnosing GERD using invasive tests and validated questionnaires have also been mentioned.

Risk assessment of diabetes using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score among older adults: Secondary analysis from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India.

BACKGROUND: The Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) is a simple tool to assess the probability of an individual having type 2 diabetes (T2DM) but its applicability in community-dwelling older adults is lacking. This study aimed to estimate the risk of T2DM and its determinants among older adults without prior diabetes (DM) using the IDRS, while also assessing its sensitivity and specificity in individuals with a history of diabetes. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) wave-1 (2017-18). IDRS was calculated amongst individuals aged ≥45 years considering waist circumference, physical activity, age and family history of DM. Risk was categorized as high (≥60), moderate (30-50), and low (<30). RESULTS: Among 64541 individuals, 7.27 % (95 % CI: 6.78, 7.80) were at low risk, 61.80 % (95 % CI: 60.99, 62.61) at moderate risk, and 30.93 % (95 % CI: 30.19, 31.67) at high risk for T2DM. Adjusted analysis showed higher risk of T2DM among men, widowed/divorced, urban residents, minority religions, overweight, obese, and individuals with hypertension. ROC curve yielded an AUC of 0.67 (95 % CI: 0.66, 0.67, P < 0.001). The IDRS cutoff ≥50 had 73.69 % sensitivity and 51.40 % specificity for T2DM detection. CONCLUSION: More than 9 in 10 older adults in India without history of DM have high-moderate risk of T2DM when assessed with the IDRS risk-prediction tool. However, the low specificity and moderate sensitivity of IDRS in existing DM cases constraints its practical utility as a decision tool for screening.