Gastroesophageal reflux disease: What you need to know

Nov. 20 through Nov. 26 marks National Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week. The disease, also known as GERD, affects one in every five people in the United States, according to data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. These data also show that GERD was responsible for 1,653 deaths, 8.9 million ambulatory care visits, 4.7 million hospitalizations and 64.6 million prescriptions being written.

“Recognition of GERD Awareness Week on the National Health Observance Calendar serves as an annual reminder to people that certain symptoms, which they might otherwise overlook, could be signs of GERD,” Nancy J. Norton, president and founder for the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), told Healio Family Medicine. “It is important to raise awareness and understanding about signs of GERD so that people with symptoms can get the help they need.”

According to IFFGD’s website, patients with heartburn that is also severe, frequent, nightly or life-impacting, may actually have GERD. Medicine and surgery may treat the disease, and sometimes lifestyle changes can also alleviate some of the symptoms. If left untreated, GERD could cause Barrett’s esophagus, certain respiratory problems, esophageal stricture and esophagitis, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

To mark GERD Awareness Week, Healio Family Medicine presents some of the latest news and research on the disease for physicians.

Epithelial thickness a reliable histologic marker for GERD

A post-hoc analysis of data showed total epithelial thickness was a robust histologic marker for GERD. Read more

Proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia, GERD may share similar underlying cause

GERD is common among patients with proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia, suggesting that the two conditions may share similar pathogenic mechanisms, according to an Italian study published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Read more

Embrace food as an 'integral part of medicine' to shift focus from intervention to prevention

Culinary medicine, a new and still-evolving area of medicine, has the potential to reduce the prevalence of various diseases and all-cause mortality, an expert said in an interview at the Cardiometabolic Risk Summit. Read more

Alginate therapy an effective alternative for treating GERD symptoms

Treatments that are alginate-based appear slightly less effective than histamine-2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors, but more effective than placebo and antacids for treating GERD symptoms, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis. Read more

Weight loss, smoking cessation reduce reflux symptoms in GERD

Other lifestyle modifications were also shown to be beneficial in a recent systematic review. Read more

EndoStim therapy safe, effective for refractory GERD

Electrical stimulation therapy of the lower esophageal sphincter significantly improved esophageal acid exposure, GERD symptoms, PPI use and quality of life in patients with GERD partially responsive to PPIs, according to 1-year results from a multicenter trial presented at DDW 2016. Read more

FDA approves Dexilant for patients aged 12 to 17 years with GERD

Takeda Pharmaceuticals said the medication has been approved for adults since 2009. Read more

ASGS endorses Cellvizio for GERD, Barrett's esophagus

The American Society of General Surgeons has endorsed the confocal laser endomicroscopy platform Cellvizio for managing patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett’s esophagus, according to a press release from the manufacturer. Read more