Patient reported outcomes in gastroesophageal reflux disease: An overview of available measures

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common, chronic disorder. The main symptom of GERD is heartburn, although a diverse range of symptoms can be associated with the disease including acid regurgitation and epigastric pain. GERD is also a risk factor for Barrett's oesophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. The impact of GERD symptoms on patients' lives can be profound and is unrelated to the presence or absence of esophagitis. The impact of GERD can be measured by assessing the patient perspective using Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs). There are two categories of questionnaires that can be used to measure the effect of GERD on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), namely generic and disease or treatment specific. The use of PRO instruments has become more accepted in the assessment of disease treatment. Well-designed instruments that assess physical, psychological and emotional factors can provide clinicians with the data that will promote effective management decisions for the treatment of GERD. The most frequently used instruments in GERD are reviewed here, in terms of their psychometric properties.

Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

“…In addition, individuals with GERD are worried and anxious about developing cancer (carcinophobia) [14,15]. Thus GERD impairs Health Related Quality of Life [4,5,[14][15][16][17][18].…”

Symptom overlap in patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints in the Canadian confirmatory acid suppression test (CAST) study: further psychometric validation of the reflux disease questionnaire

“…13 Global outcomes measures that assess overall severity of symptoms can be used to evaluate treatment efficacy in clinical trials. 11,14 In addition, because symptoms adversely affect patients' lives, several disease-specific questionnaires that evaluate the impact of symptoms on patients' lives have been developed and validated. 14,15 Symptoms have multiple dimensions, including intensity, duration and frequency.…”

“…11,14 In addition, because symptoms adversely affect patients' lives, several disease-specific questionnaires that evaluate the impact of symptoms on patients' lives have been developed and validated. 14,15 Symptoms have multiple dimensions, including intensity, duration and frequency. 16 Recently, the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) was developed and validated to characterize the most important symptoms of patients presenting with upper GI symptoms.…”

Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life of Opiate Users at Entry to Low-Threshold Methadone Programs

“…[1][2][3][4] . Quality of life 'is a construct that refl ects a person's appraisals of their circumstances in relation to their expectations of life experiences' [5 , p. 58].…”