Observational study in primary health care: Symptoms control of gastroesophageal reflux disease and influence on the quality of life

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.