Typical Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in a General Population: Epidemiological, Clinical and Endoscopic Profile

Aims Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) represents a public health problem because of its prevalence and its impact on the quality of life of patients. Esophagitis represents one of its main complications. The aim of the work is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and endoscopic lesions of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Methods This is a retrospective descriptive study carried out between January 2016 and December 2017. It includes all patients suffering from GERD. Data collection was carried out from patients’ medical records. The dependent variable was typical gastroesophageal reflux disease defined by one of the following 3 associations (heartburn-regurgitation, postural pyrosis syndrome, or regurgitation – postural syndrome).

Results Two hundred and thirty-seven (237) patients were enrolled with a median age of 52 years (11 - 85 years). There was a female predominance with 129 women and 108 men. The sex ration M/F was 0.8. A typical symptomatology of GERD was present in 64 patients (27 %). Atypical digestive manifestations were dominated by: epigastralgia (22 %), belching (12 %) and hiccups (10 %). The extra-digestive symptoms were dominated by gingivitis (15 %) and precordial pain (12 %). Gastroscopy was normal in 70 % of cases (166 patients). Esophagitis was present in 45 % of patients with typical symptoms of GERD. The most common lesion observed was grade B esophagitis (46 %) according to the Los Angeles classification. 30.7 % of patients with atypical symptoms had esophagitis. Similarly, grade B was also the lesion most frequently described in 39 % of cases. A hiatus hernia complicated by esophagitis was noted in 35 % of our patients. Endobrachyesophageal lesions were found in only 3 % of patients(n = 7). All of our patients had received treatment with a proton pump inhibitor.

Conclusions Across a typical or atypical symptomatology of GERD, esogastroduodenal fibroscopy is always indicated because of the frequency of peptic esophagitis and the risk of progression to endobrachyesophagus and adenocarcinoma.

Citation: Harbi R, Ben Abdesselem K, Hammami A et al. eP40 TYPICAL GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE IN A GENERAL POPULATION: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL AND ENDOSCOPIC PROFILE. Endoscopy 2021; 53: S110.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 March 2021