Onset and disappearance rates of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in the Spanish population, and their impact on quality of life

ABSTRACT

Background: few studies have reported the onset and disappearancerates of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (GERS) inthe population.Aim: to assess the occurrence and disappearance rates ofGERS in Spain, and their impact on health-related quality of life(HRQL).Participants and methods: participants were selected atrandom from the general population of Madrid in age and sexstrata. They were interviewed at home twice, 6 months apart. Heartburn,acid regurgitation and consultation were assessed withthe gastroesophageal reflux questionnaire, and HRQL with theSF-36.Results: 709 individuals were included, and 451 (63.6%)were re-interviewed 6 months later. Among the 325 individualswithout GERS, 9 developed weekly symptoms (2.2% [95% CI0.8, 3.4%]); 2 (22%) consulted because of GERS. Among the 34subjects reporting weekly GERS initially, 26 did not report themat 6-months. Onset of GERS was associated with worseningscores in the physical summary of SF-36 (delta = -6.6 [95%CI -11.8, -1.42]), while disappearance with an improved score(delta = -3.0 [95% CI 0.0, 5.9]).Conclusion: despite the lower prevalence of GERS in Spain,the occurrence rate is 2.2% in 6 months; however symptoms disappearedin more than half of subjects six months later. DevelopingGERS was associated with reduced HRQL, and their disappearancewith improvement(AU)