There were significant positive associations among reflux symptoms, psychological stress, and sleep disturbance in Japanese adults. Further studies investigating the efficacy of therapy are needed.

Background/Aims: Approximately 20-40% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment. The acid-inhibitory effect of vonoprazan, a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB), is significantly greater when compared to the effect of PPIs. We investigated the efficacy of vonoprazan treatment for PPI-refractory GERD and factors associated with P-CAB non-response. Methods: We enrolled 277 GERD patients receiving continuous PPI therapy. Subjects completed a self-report questionnaire including the frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG). Patients with PPI-refractory GERD received 20 mg of vonoprazan once daily for 8 weeks. After that, subjects completed the same questionnaire, and the results were used to identify P-CAB responders and non-responders. Results: Twenty-eight patients were identified as P-CAB responders and 26 were non-responders. Vonoprazan treatment significantly decreased scores of FSSG, nighttime symptom, and Athens Insomnia Scale. Multivariate analysis demonstrated co-existing functional dyspepsia (FD; OR 4.94) and the presence of sleep disturbances (OR 4.34) was associated with P-CAB non-response, whereas alcohol consumption was inversely associated. Conclusions: Vonoprazan treatment might be appropriate as a promising new strategy for PPI-refractory GERD. Co-existing FD, sleep disturbances, and alcohol abstinence were significantly associated with P-CAB non-response. Other therapeutic options should be considered in patients with these factors.

SUMMARY BackgroundThe features of proton pump inhibitor-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE) are similar to those of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), but PPI-REE demonstrates symptomatic and histological responses to PPI therapy. Several studies have shown that basophils play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases.

BackgroundSeveral studies have reported a significant association between sleep disturbance and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the present study is to compare the clinical characteristics and the health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of Japanese IBD patients with or without sleep disturbances, and to investigate the risk factors for disease flare in these patients.MethodsIBD patients were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire including the Pittsburg sleep quality index and the 8-item short-form health survey. The information about disease flare within 1 year from enrollment in the study was analyzed with a multiple logistic regression model to identify risk factors for IBD flare-ups.ResultsThe prevalence of sleep disturbances was 44.1 % (60 out of 136 IBD patients). Use of sleep medications was significantly higher in IBD patients with sleep disturbances whereas use of immuno modulators was significantly higher in IBD patients without sleep disturbances. The scores from all HR-QOL domains were significantly lower in patients with sleep disturbances than in patients without sleep disturbances. Fifty-one patients (37.5 %) had disease flare within 1 year from enrollment in the study and sleep disturbances were identified as a significant risk factor for disease flare (OR 3.09, 95 % CI 1.47–6.43).ConclusionsOur results indicate that sleep disturbances are common in Japanese IBD patients and are associated with poorer HR-QOL. Since the presence of sleep disturbances is a significant risk factor for IBD flare-ups, we encourage physicians to perform a careful examination of sleep disturbances in IBD patients.

Objective Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is strongly associated with sleep disturbances; however, the detailed differences in the characteristics of sleep disturbances between GERD and non-GERD patients are unknown. The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical characteristics as well as health-related quality of life in GERD and non-GERD patients with sleep disturbances. Methods Three hundred and fifty patients, including 124 patients with GERD and 226 patients without GERD, completed a self-administered questionnaire that evaluated clinical information. The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and 8-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) were also used. Sleep disturbance was considered to be present if the PSQI was >5.5. Results The prevalence of sleep disturbances was significantly higher in the GERD patients (66/124, 53.9%) than in the non-GERD patients (89/226, 39.3%). Depression and anxiety were significantly more common in the subjects with sleep disturbances than in those without sleep disturbances, although there were no differences between the GERD and non-GERD patients. Among the subjects with sleep disturbances, daytime sleepiness was more common in the GERD patients than in the non-GERD patients. The subjects with sleep disturbances had a poorer health-related quality of life. The physical components of quality of life were impaired, particularly in the GERD patients with sleep disturbances. Conclusion GERD patients with sleep disturbances commonly experience daytime sleepiness and an impaired health-related quality of life, especially in terms of physical components.