The relationship between the prevalence of nighttime gastroesophageal reflux disease and disease severity.

BACKGROUND: Nighttime gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) prevalence and severity estimates vary substantially across studies. METHODS: We assessed nighttime GERD (NTG) prevalence and symptom frequency and severity through a web survey of US adults, using the GERD Symptom and Medication Questionnaire (GERD-SMQ), a validated symptom questionnaire. NTG was based on episodes of nighttime heartburn per week and time of occurrence. Symptom severity and impact were assessed and compared for GERD cases with and without NTG. RESULTS: GERD prevalence among respondents (n = 2,603) was 27%. Forty-five percent of symptomatic GERD respondents had NTG. Among respondents with both daytime and nighttime symptoms, 51% reported that nighttime symptoms were more bothersome. NTG respondents reported greater disease severity compared with those without (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: NTG symptoms are very common among those identified with GERD. People with nighttime symptoms have greater disease severity than those with exclusively or primarily daytime symptoms.