'Relief Starts with Awareness' campaign aims to shed light on GERD symptoms, treatments
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To honor GERD Awareness Week on Nov. 24 to 30, the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders launched a campaign theme, “Relief Starts with Awareness,” to boost understanding of symptoms and treatments for the disease.
Although common, with prevalence estimates ranging from 18% to 28% in the U.S., GERD is often unrecognized and misdiagnosed for occasional heartburn, emphasizing the importance of early and accurate diagnosis. Apart from heartburn, symptoms may include acid reflux, pain or difficulty when swallowing, belching, a feeling of food getting stuck in the esophagus, and a sour taste in the mouth.
“Many people suffer from GERD symptoms without realizing that lifestyle changes or accurate medical treatments can make a significant difference and improve one’s quality of life,” Ceciel T. Rooker, president of the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), said in a press release. “Over time, people with chronic heartburn are at greater risk for complications, including stricture or a potentially precancerous disease that involves a cellular change in the esophagus called Barrett’s esophagus; consulting a health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment is essential.”
The IFFGD’s campaign focuses on increasing the awareness and understanding of causes for GERD as well as the symptoms and treatments available that can provide individuals relief and improve their quality of life. The organization will promote the campaign on social media platforms using the hashtags #ManageGERD and #GERDAwarenessWeek.
In support of IFFGD and in recognition of GERD Awareness Week, Healio compiled the latest updates on newly approved treatments, management, reducing heartburn symptoms and more.
FDA expands Voquezna approval for heartburn relief in non-erosive GERD
The FDA in July expanded approval for Phathom Pharmaceuticals’ Voquezna (vonoprazan) tablets 10 mg to alleviate heartburn related in non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to a company press release.
This is the third approved indication for Voquezna following FDA approvals in 2023 for the treatment of all severities of erosive esophagitis and Helicobacter pylori infection when combined with antibiotics. Read more.
On-demand vonoprazan reduces nonerosive reflux disease symptoms ‘within first hour’
On-demand vonoprazan effectively reduced heartburn symptom severity in patients with nonerosive reflux disease within 1 hour of treatment, according to data presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting.
“On-demand treatment for nonerosive reflux disease is suitable primarily for patients who do not have a high frequency of heartburn,” Ronnie Fass, MD, MACG, medical director at the Digestive Health Center and director of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at MetroHealth Medical Center, told attendees. “Our current options for on-demand dosing are very limited as you all know, primarily antacids and H2 blockers that are somewhat effective, but with limited potency and they lack durable response.” Read more.
VIDEO: Consider sleep quality, ‘next-day functioning’ in patients with nocturnal heartburn
In this Healio video, David A. Johnson, MD, MACG, FASGE, MACP, reminds physicians to ask patients with nocturnal heartburn or GERD about associated sleep disturbances, which can negatively affect “next-day functioning” and quality of life.
“Nocturnal heartburn is very frequent in anybody that has reflux disease,” Johnson, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, told Healio. “Survey data suggests that 80% of people with regular heartburn have nocturnal symptoms. The misguided perception is you treat these people with the typical medication as well as education about what they do.” Watch here.
VIDEO: Lifestyle modifications must be ‘personalized to the patient’ in GERD management
In a Healio video exclusive from Digestive Disease Week, Carolyn Newberry, MD, discusses the importance of personalized lifestyle modifications, such as identifying dietary triggers and being mindful of meal-timing, for the management of GERD.
“In my session, I particularly looked at how we can use diet as a treatment tool to help patients feel better,” Newberry, a gastroenterologist and director of GI nutrition at Weill Cornell Medicine, said. “I reviewed some basic dietary modifications that can be made, including reviewing elimination-style diets; macronutrient manipulation, especially reducing simple sugar intake and increasing fiber intake; and also looking at meal-timing and size — how the dietary habits actually reflect how patients feel.” Watch here.
Vonoprazan reduces heartburn symptoms as early as day 1 in nonerosive reflux disease
Vonoprazan effectively relieved heartburn symptoms in patients with nonerosive reflux disease as early as day 1 of treatment, with results persisting after a 4-week placebo-controlled period through 20 weeks, according to data presented at Digestive Disease Week.
“Proton pump inhibitors are the main therapy used for GERD, including [nonerosive reflux disease (NERD)],” Loren Laine, MD, chief of the section of digestive diseases and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, told Healio. “Potassium-competitive acid blockers (PCABs) are a new form of antisecretory therapy but there are few randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of PCABs for NERD — and they are all from Asia. We did a double-blind RCT in the U.S. to assess efficacy of the PCAB vonoprazan in patients diagnosed with NERD.” Read more.
References:
- El-Serag HB, et al. Gut. 2014;doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2012-304269.
- Locke R. The prevalence and impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Available at: https://aboutgerd.org/what-is/prevalence/. Accessed Nov. 13, 2024.
- Relief Starts with Awareness: GERD Awareness Week Highlights the Importance of Symptom Management. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/relief-starts-with-awareness-gerd-awareness-week-highlights-the-importance-of-symptom-management-302295347.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2024.
- Richter JE, at al. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Available at: https://iffgd.org/resources/publication-library/gerd-questions-and-answers/. Accessed Nov. 11, 2024.
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