Increasing compliance with long-term therapy: avoiding complications and adverse events

Compliance with long-term therapy is an important consideration in any chronic disease. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) frequently stop and start treatment based on their symptoms. This form of therapy ("on-demand treatment") has been shown to be effective in patients with non-erosive reflux disease and may reduce the costs associated with long-term therapy. However, continuous medical therapy for erosive esophagitis is associated with fewer relapses and better outcomes. Similarly, long-term therapy administered continuously reduces complications such as stricture and may decrease the development of dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus.