Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2013 Volume 141, Issue 1-2, Pages: 54-60
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1302054K
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Observational study in primary health care: Symptoms control of gastroesophageal reflux disease and influence on the quality of life
Krstić Miodrag (Klinika za gastroenterologiju, Klinički centar Srbije, Beograd)
Damjanov Dragomir (Klinički centar Vojvodine, Klinika za internu medicinu, Odeljenje za gastroenterologiju, Novi Sad)
Nagorni Aleksandar (Klinički centar, Klinika za internu medicinu, Odeljenje za gastroenterologiju, Niš)
Introduction. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease in
primary care. The most effective medicamentous treatment is proton pump
inhibitors (PPI). Objective. Observational study conducted in 13 primary
health care centers from the whole Serbia with the aim to collect local
epidemiology data on GERD and to investigate the intensity and frequency of
disease symptoms and the quality of life of patients treated with proton pump
inhibitors by using a Patient’s Questionnaire. Methods. Adult GERD patients
treated with PPI were under follow-up for two months. The investigators
evaluated typical symptoms and gave global assessment of disease severity.
The patients filled-in the Patient’s Questionnaire on disease symptoms and
quality of life. At the study end, the investigators evaluated the importance
of the Patient’s Questionnaire in the management of these patients. Results.
The study included 828 patients (66.3% female) of mean age 54.8 years. The
most common life habits were coffee consumption (86.1%), exposure to stress
(81.7%), smoking (45.7%) and alcohol consumption (25%). With PPI therapy a
statistically significant reduction of typical GERD symptoms of any intensity
was detected as evaluated by the investigators (p<0,001), as well as the
reduction in the frequency of all symptoms and accompanying discomforts of
the quality of life, as estimated by the patients (p<0.001). In 92.2% of the
patients the investigators evaluated the Patient’s Questionnaire to be of
significant help. Conclusion. Primary health care physicians evaluated the
Patient’s Questionnaire as an important tool in the investigation of the
disease symptoms and the quality of life of patients with GERD. The intensity
and frequency of symptoms were reduced, and the quality of life of patients
with GERD was improved by therapy with PPI.
Keywords: gastroesophageal reflux disease, proton pump inhibitors, quality of life, symptoms, questionnaire