Insights into gastroesophageal reflux disease-associated dyspeptic symptoms

Patients with GERD frequently report dyspeptic-like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating, and belching. The purpose of this review was to define the epidemiology and underlying mechanisms for dyspeptic symptoms in GERD patients.

We performed a systematic literature review to identify the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in GERD patients. We identified 2057 studies, and 37 studies (2%) met the entry criteria, including 17 articles describing the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in GERD subjects, 7 studies describing mechanistic evaluation of dyspeptic symptoms in GERD, 7 studies describing questionnaires used to measure dyspeptic symptoms, and 6 studies assessing the role of proton pump inhibitor therapy for dyspeptic symptoms associated with GERD. We used an evidence-based approach to assess the literature.

The median (± standard deviation) prevalence of GERD in 30,384 subjects from 8 studies conducted in Western countries was 30% ± 8% (range, 20%-40%). Dyspeptic symptoms were present in 38% ± 14% (range, 21%-63%) and were more frequent in patients with frequent GERD symptoms, compared with patients with intermittent or no GERD symptoms [Evidence B]. Patients with nonerosive disease had a higher prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms [Evidence B] in addition to a lower response to proton pump inhibitor therapy [Evidence A], compared with patients with erosive esophagitis. Epigastic pain, belching, bloating, and early satiety demonstrated improvement on PPI therapy [Evidence A], compared with symptoms of nausea and vomiting that did not improve [Evidence A]. Patients with dyspepsia were at risk for a subsequent new diagnosis of GERD [Evidence B]. Dyspeptic symptoms contributed significantly to the decrement in health-related quality of life associated with GERD.

Dyspeptic symptoms are common in GERD patients and impact health-related quality of life.