Complete resolution of heartburn symptoms and health‐related quality of life in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics 1999-12, Vol.13 (12), p.1621-1630
• Main Authors: REVICKI, D. A, CRAWLEY, J. A, ZODET, M. W, LEVINE, D. S, JOELSSON, B. O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Ulcer Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Digestive system; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heartburn - drug therapy; Histamine H2 Antagonists - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Omeprazole - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quality of Life - psychology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Ranitidine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.1999.00669.x

Background: Medical treatments for gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) vary in their ability to completely resolve heartburn and other symptoms. Although GERD reduces health‐related quality of life (HRQL) little is known about the relationship between resolution of heartburn symptoms with medical therapy and HRQL. We evaluated the association between complete resolution of heartburn symptoms and functioning and well‐being in three samples of patients with GERD. Methods: We analysed baseline and follow‐up assessments of heartburn symptoms and HRQL scores from three clinical trials (total n=1351) comparing omeprazole and ranitidine for acute symptomatic treatment of GERD. Heartburn symptoms were measured using patient diaries and/or patient self‐report. HRQL was assessed using the Psychological General Well‐Being Index (PGWB) in all three clinical trials and the SF‐36 Health Survey in two clinical trials. Resolution of heartburn symptoms was defined as no heartburn reported during the assessment period. Results: We observed statistically significant differences favouring patients with no heartburn symptoms on the PGWB total score (P=0.018 to P