Heartburn’s Hidden Impact: A Narrative Review Exploring Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) as a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common disease with an estimated 442 million cases worldwide. It is a well-documented independent risk factor for many gastrointestinal pathologies, however, its role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear, despite its high prevalence in patients with CVD. Although traditionally considered a causative agent of noncardiac chest pain, a common imitator of cardiac chest pain, or an incidentally shared comorbidity in patients with CVD, a number of studies have implicated GERD and its therapies as risk factors for CVD. This narrative review will explore the relationship between GERD and CVD, including medical and mechanical therapeutic approaches for GERD that could potentially impact the incidence, progression, and mortality of CVD.

A Novel Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease A Nomogram Predicting Coronary Atherosclerosis

“…There are large prospective cohort studies showing that all gastrointestinal diseases increase the incidence of cardiovascular disease to a greater or lesser extent, with the relevance of GERD and CA being of particular interest [23,24]. It has therefore been suggested that GERD may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease [25]. Pathophysiological mechanisms that have been widely investigated for the link between GERD and CA include in ammation, autonomic function and brinolysis [26-28].…”