The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of spontaneous sleep positions on the occurrence of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux. METHODS:In patients referred for ambulatory pH-impedance reflux monitoring, the concurrent sleep position was measured using a sleep position measurement device (measuring left, right, supine, and prone positions). RESULTS:Fifty-seven patients were included. We observed a significantly shorter acid exposure time in the left (median 0.0%, P25-P75, 0.0%-3.0%), compared with the right lateral position (median 1.2%, 0.0%-7.5%, P 5 0.022) and the supine position (median 0.6%, 0.00%-8.3%, P 5 0.022). The esophageal acid clearance time was significantly shorter in the left lateral decubitus position (median 35 seconds, 16-115 seconds), compared with the supine (median 76 seconds, 22-257 seconds, P 5 0.030) and right lateral positions (median 90 seconds, 26-250 seconds, P 5 0.002).

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