Co-occurrence of childhood functional constipation and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Abstract

Objective Functional constipation (FC) and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) are common gastrointestinal disorders in children. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between functional constipation and GERD in children. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 82 children aged <16 years who referred to the pediatric gastroenterology clinic of (XXX) and were diagnosed with functional constipation according to ROME III criteria, and gastroesophageal reflux disease according to clinical history and DeMeester Score. Questionnaire was used to obtain the data regarding age, sex, cause of the visit, presence or absence of any symptom was noted, clinical examinations and difficulty in defecation. Results Of the 82 children with FC and GERD, 45 were boys and 37 were girls. Among children with FC and GERD, FC was reported in 50 (61%) cases prior to the onset of GERD, whereas 32 (39%) of the children had reflux before FC. The mean age of participants presented with FC was 5.66 ± 3.52 and that of GERD was 5.24 ± 2.83. The difference in mean age was not statistically significant. Of the children with gastroesophageal reflux disease, there were 13 (40.6%) males and 19 females while 32 (64%) males and 18 females had FC and the gender-based difference was statistically significant between the 2 groups. Conclusion The prevalence of functional constipation in children was higher than gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional constipation should be simultaneously considered for therapeutic interventions and patients with functional digestive diseases should be monitored and followed-up.

The causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and constipation: a study utilizing bidirectional mendelian randomization combined with meta-analysis

“…Conventionally, it has been posited that GERD and constipation are two autonomous pathologies in gastroenterology. Nonetheless, an array of observational investigations [11] [12] [13] [14] [29] [30] has illuminated a potentially profound linkage between them, which is of paramount importance for devising nuanced diagnostic modalities and e cacious therapeutic interventions, thereby catalyzing extensive scholarly debate. However, the observational nature of these inquiries imposes constraints on our understanding of their relationship.…”

“…Historically, GERD and constipation have been perceived as discrete clinical entities within a medical canon. Nevertheless, an emergent corpus of evidence from longitudinal and cross-sectional research paradigms has revealed a notable con uence of these maladies [11]. The REACTION-J2 study [12] in Japan, which analyzed a cohort of 10,000 subjects using a spectrum of diagnostic criteria for both constipation and GERD, deduced from a multifaceted analysis across nine distinct criteria sets that the prevalence of constipation among individuals diagnosed with GERD markedly exceeded that of their non-GERD counterparts, with patients a icted by both conditions reporting a substantial degradation in quality of life.…”

Overlap Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Functional Constipation and Associated Risk Factors Among the General Population in Saudi Arabia

“…31 The correlation between GERD and FC found in this study aligns with prior research by Ahmadipour et al (2022), reinforcing the notion that these two conditions may have interconnected factors or pathways influencing their occurrence. 21 However, further investigation is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of this relationship, which could potentially inform preventive and treatment strategies for individuals with these gastrointestinal conditions.…”

“…19 In children, a combination of GERD and FC has been reported. 20,21 To the best of our knowledge, there have been few studies published globally about the overlap between GERD and constipation, and no published research has been undertaken in Saudi Arabia. This overlap is useful in the treatment of these diseases since GERD and constipation are common gastrointestinal diseases in Saudi Arabia.…”