Impact of head of bed elevation in symptoms of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a randomized single-blind study (IBELGA)

Prospective uncontrolled clinical study shows rapid and long lasting relief of heartburn and acid related gastric discomfort with Refluthin

Heartburn and acid regurgitation are main symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux, a widespread complaint with a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Refluthin® for Heartburn chewable tablets (Refluthin) are a symptomatic treatment option containing a combination of an antacid (CaCO3, MgCO3) and a polysaccharide-rich extract with mucoprotective substances from Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. To investigate performance and safety of Refluthin in the rapid and long lasting relief of heartburn and acid related gastric discomfort under practical use conditions, a prospective, clinical, uncontrolled, open-label study was conducted. Adults with symptomatic heartburn, acid regurgitation, and/or recurrent acid related gastric discomfort took one tablet Refluthin up to four times/day as needed for up to 4 weeks. Endpoints were both time to onset and duration of symptom relief; reflux symptom intensity/frequency; global assessments (QoL, performance, satisfaction, usability, tolerability); and safety. 81/100 participants (81%) responded with a first symptom relief within ≤ 20 min in ≥ 50% of the individual applications. Long lasting effects of > 120 min were reported by 83/100 (83%) participants. Significant reductions in heartburn event frequency and intensity were seen within the 4 weeks of intermittent use (p < 0.0001, respectively). Global assessment results and safety-relevant findings were also favorable. Results thus demonstrated a distinct rapid and long lasting symptom relief after intake of Refluthin, with a safe and easy use. The significant reductions in frequency and intensity of heartburn events over time indicate sustained effects under treatment. These long-term effects might be explainable by soothing and protection of the irritated mucous membrane by Refluthin.

Management advice for patients with reflux-like symptoms: an evidence-based consensus

Patients with reflux-like symptoms (heartburn and regurgitation) are often not well advised on implementing individualised strategies to help control their symptoms using dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, behavioural changes or fast-acting rescue therapies. One reason for this may be the lack of emphasis in management guidelines owing to 'low-quality' evidence and a paucity of interventional studies. Thus, a panel of 11 gastroenterologists and primary care doctors used the Delphi method to develop consolidated advice for patients based on expert consensus. A steering committee selected topics for literature searches using the PubMed database, and a modified Delphi process including two online meetings and two rounds of voting was conducted to generate consensus statements based on prespecified criteria (67% voting 'strongly agree' or 'agree with minor reservation'). After expert discussion and two rounds of voting, 21 consensus statements were generated, and assigned strength of evidence and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) rating. Eleven statements achieved the strongest (100%) agreement: five are related to diet and include identification and avoidance of dietary triggers, limiting alcohol, coffee and carbonated beverages, and advising patients troubled by postprandial symptoms not to overeat; the remaining six statements concern advice around smoking cessation, weight loss, raising the head-of-the-bed, avoiding recumbency after meals, stress reduction and alginate use. The aim of developing the consensus statements is that they may serve as a foundation for tools and advice that can routinely help patients with reflux-like symptoms better understand the causes of their symptoms and manage their individual risk factors and triggers.

Assessment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms and Sleep Quality Among Women in the Nurses' Health Study II

Importance

Limited data exist on the association of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms with sleep quality.

Objective

To prospectively investigate the association between GER symptoms and sleep quality.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study included data from the Nurses' Health Study II of female nurses in the US. Participants self-reported the frequency and duration of GER symptoms beginning June 2005, with updates every 4 years through June 2015. Follow-up was completed June 2019, and data were analyzed from November 15, 2022, to June 4, 2023.

Exposures

Frequency and duration of GER symptoms.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Poor sleep quality was assessed in 2017 through a modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which included difficulty in falling asleep, restlessness of sleep, daytime sleepiness, sleep disturbance, and sleep duration. Relative risk (RR) for poor sleep quality and individual components of poor sleep quality was estimated according to the frequency and duration of GER symptoms.

Results

Among 48 536 women (median age, 59 years [range, 48-69 years]), 7929 (16.3%) developed poor sleep quality during 4 years of follow-up. Compared with those with GER symptoms less than once a month, the multivariable RR for poor sleep quality among women with GER symptoms more than once a week was 1.53 (95% CI, 1.45-1.62). Women who had GER symptoms once or more a week for more than 7 years had an RR of 1.36 (95% CI, 1.30-1.43) compared with women who had not had GER symptoms once or more a week. The frequency and duration of GER symptoms were significantly associated with each individual component of poor sleep quality; for example, the multivariable RRs for GER symptoms 2 or more times per week compared with no GER symptoms were 1.49 (95% CI, 1.39-1.58) for difficulty in falling asleep, 1.47 (95% CI, 1.39-1.56) for excessive daytime sleepiness, and 1.44 (95% CI, 1.36-1.53) for restlessness of sleep.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this prospective cohort study of female nurses in the Nurses' Health Study II, the frequency and duration of GER symptoms were associated with subsequent risk of poor sleep quality. The findings suggest that effective treatment of GER disease may be important not only for improvement of symptoms but also for the reduction of comorbidities associated with poor sleep quality.

Systematic review: Clinical effectiveness of interventions for the treatment of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux

BACKGROUND

Nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms have a major impact on sleep quality and are associated with complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We performed a systematic review to assess the data on the effectiveness of the currently available interventions for the treatment of nocturnal reflux symptoms.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. All prospective, controlled, and uncontrolled clinical trials in adult patients describing interventions (lifestyle modifications, surgical and pharmacological) for nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms were assessed for eligibility. A narrative descriptive summary of findings is presented together with summary tables for study characteristics and quality assessment.

KEY RESULTS

The initial reference search yielded 3067 citations; 66 citations were screened in full text, of which 31 articles were included. Studies on lifestyle modifications include head of bed elevation (n = 5), prolonging dinner-to-bed time (n = 2), and promoting left lateral decubitus position (n = 2). Placebo-controlled clinical trials investigating proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (n = 11) show success rates ranging from 34.4% to 80.8% in the PPI group versus 10.4%-51.7% in the placebo group. Laparoscopic fundoplication is reserved for severe disease only. There is insufficient evidence for a recommendation on the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), hypnotics, baclofen and adding bedtime H2 receptor antagonists for reducing nocturnal reflux. CONCLUSION INFERENCES: A sequential treatment strategy, including head of bed elevation, prolonging dinner-to-bed time, promoting left lateral decubitus position and treatment with acid-suppressive medication is recommended for nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Currently, there is insufficient evidence for the use of nCPAP, hypnotics, baclofen and adding bedtime H2 receptor antagonists.

Consensus statements and recommendations on the management of mild-to-moderate gastroesophageal reflux disease in the Southeast Asian region

This paper reports the proceedings from the first consensus meeting on the management of mild-to-moderate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region. Seventeen statements were drawn up by a steering committee that focused on epidemiology, mechanism of action, diagnostic investigations, and treatment. Voting on the recommendations used the Delphi method with two rounds of voting among the 10 panel members. The consensus panel agreed that GERD is mostly a mild disease in the SEA region with predominantly non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). Complicated GERD and Barrett's esophagus are infrequently seen. The panel recommended endoscopy in patients with alarm or refractory symptoms but cautioned that the incidence of gastric cancer is higher in SEA. pH and impedance measurements were not recommended for routine assessment. The acid pocket is recognized as an important pathogenic factor in GERD. Lifestyle measures such as weight reduction, avoidance of smoking, reduction of alcohol intake, and elevation of the head of the bed were recommended but strict avoidance of specific foods or drinks was not. Alginates was recommended as the first-line treatment for patients with mild-to-moderate GERD while recognizing that proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) remained the mainstay of treatment of GERD. The use of alginates was also recommended as adjunctive therapy when GERD symptoms were only partially responsive to PPIs.

Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Overuse of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) - frequently used for relieving symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) - raises long-term safety concerns, warranting evidence-based non-drug interventions. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effect of head-of-bed elevation on relieving symptoms of GORD in adults.

METHODS

We included controlled trials comparing the effect of head-of-bed elevation interventions to control in adults with GORD. Two independent reviewers screened articles, extracted data, and assessed quality of included studies. Primary outcomes were changes in GORD symptoms and use of PPIs.

RESULTS

We screened 1206 records; and included five trials (four cross-over and one factorial) comprising 228 patients. All five included trials were judged to be at high-risk of performance bias and four of selection bias. Of five included trials, two used 'bed blocks' under the bed legs; one used 'sleeping on a wedge' pillow, and two used both. High heterogeneity in outcome measures and reported outcomes data precluded meta-analyses. The four studies that reported on GORD symptoms found an improvement among participants in the head-of-bed elevation; a high-quality crossover trial showed a clinical important reduction in symptom scores at 6 weeks (risk ratio of 2.1; 95% CI 1.2 to 3.6). These results are supported by the observed improvement in physiological intra-oesophageal pH measurements.

CONCLUSIONS

Methodological and reporting limitations in available literature preclude definitive recommendations. However, head-of-bed elevation could be still considered as a cheap and safe alternative to drug interventions with unfavourable safety profiles.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

Open Science Framework: http://osf.io/2hz3j.