Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in the Young Population and Its Correlation With Anxiety and Depression

Diagnostic value associated with the combination of saliva pepsin and microorganisms in functional heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease

Heartburn is a common symptom shared by both gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional heartburn (FHB), which can make it challenging to differentiate between the two conditions. However, examining oral manifestations of GERD can be a cost-effective and readily available method to aid in this differentiation process. It may serve as a valuable tool in distinguishing GERD from FHB.

A comprehensive Mendelian randomization study highlights the relationship between psychiatric disorders and non-tumor gastrointestinal diseases

Objective

Previous observational studies revealed the potential correlation between psychiatric disorders (PDs) and non-tumor gastrointestinal diseases (NTGDs). However, their causation remains unclear.

Methods

We explored the causal relationship between PDs and NTGDs through bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics and bidirectional two-sample MR study were used to assess the causality between PDs and NTGDs. Multiple sensitivity analyses were used to identify the robustness of our results.

Results

We found that major depression was causally associated with increased risk of gastric ulcer (OR: 1.812, 95% CI: 1.320-2.487, p < 0.001) and irritable bowel syndrome (OR: 1.645, 95% CI: 1.291-2.097, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, genetically predicted gastroesophageal reflux disease contributed to the increased risk of anxiety disorders (OR: 1.425, 95% CI: 1.295-1.568, p < 0.001), and ulcerative colitis was related to increased risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (OR: 1.042, 95% CI: 1.008-1.078, p = 0.0157).

Conclusion

Our study provided MR evidence to support the close causality and identify the specific direction between eight PDs and eight common NTGDs. Experimental studies to further examine the causality, underlying mechanism, and therapeutic potential of PDs and NTGDs are required.

Analyzing the correlation between gastroesophageal reflux disease and anxiety and depression based on ordered logistic regression

Numerous studies have indicated a connection between psychiatric symptoms, specifically anxiety and depression, and gastroesophageal reflux. However, the precise nature of the link between the severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease and the severity of anxiety and depression remains uncertain. Here, we gathered 24-h pH monitoring data and baseline patient information from a cohort of 518 individuals. Additionally, we evaluated their psychological well-being using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The relationship between baseline characteristics and varying degrees of anxiety, depression, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was assessed using R software version 4.1.3 and logistic regression models. The findings indicate a statistically significant variation in anxiety levels based on gender, as well as a significant disparity in depression groups when considering age and literacy levels. Kruskal-Wallis test analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the severity of anxiety and depression and the 24-h pH monitoring results in our patient cohort. As the anxiety and depression levels increased, the rank mean for each examination result also increased. Logistic regression modeling analysis showed that a higher anxiety level was associated with a higher level of GERD. In the presence of mild anxiety, there is a statistically significant association with a higher incidence of GERD with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.64 (95% CI 1.50, 4.64). Similarly, the moderately severe anxiety group also exhibits a causal relationship with an increased GERD incidence, with an OR of 6.84 (95% CI 3.92, 12.17). Additionally, moderate to severe depression is associated with a higher incidence of GERD, with an OR of 2.32 (95% CI 1.23, 4.37). The prevalence of GERD was greater among males compared to females (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.51-3.49). Additionally, an elevated body mass index (BMI) demonstrated a positive correlation with the susceptibility to GERD (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14). Increasing age may promote the occurrence of GERD in patients. These findings may help to provide a better basis for psychological or pharmacological interventions for GERD patients with psychosomatic symptoms in the future, and provide a reference basis for clinical treatment of the disease.

Gastrointestinal Issues in Depression, Anxiety, and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review on Pathways and Clinical Targets Implications

INTRODUCTION

Multiple illnesses commonly involve both the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Gastrointestinal Tract (GI) simultaneously. Consistent evidence suggests that neurological disorders impair GI tract function and worsen the symptomatology and pathophysiology of digestive disorders. On the other hand, it has been proposed that early functional changes in the GI tract contribute to the genesis of several CNS illnesses. Additionally, the role played by the gut in these diseases can be seen as a paradigm for how the gut and the brain interact.

METHODS

We mentioned significant GI symptoms and discussed how the GI tract affects central nervous system illnesses, including depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease in this study. We also explored potential pathophysiological underpinnings and novel targets for the creation of future therapies targeted at gut-brain connections.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

In this situation, modulating the gut microbiota through the administration of fecal microbiota transplants or probiotics may represent a new therapeutic option for this population, not only to treat GI problems but also behavioral problems, given the role that dysbiosis and leaky gut play in many neurological disorders.

CONCLUSION

Accurate diagnosis and treatment of co-existing illnesses also require coordination between psychiatrists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, and other specialties, as well as a thorough history and thorough physical examination.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Associated With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Among the Saudi Population

Objectives In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was reported to be 29%. As a result, our goal was to examine the association between GAD and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) within the general Saudi Arabian population, as well as to access the risk factors for GAD in order to gain a better understanding. Method This cross-sectional study involved 4,224 participants who completed a questionnaire. Anxiety was assessed using the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, and the GerdQ tool was used to evaluate GERD. Result The prevalence of anxiety among participants was 29% at cutoff 10, with 73% of anxiety-positive participants being female and only 26.9% being male. Furthermore, the associations between anxiety and GERD were significant as 31.4% of participants with anxiety had GERD, compared to 15.0% of those without anxiety. Conclusion In our finding, there was a significant association between anxiety and GERD among the general Saudi population. In terms of anxiety risk factors, female, younger age, social status, body mass index, eating fried food, caffeinated drinks, diabetes miletus, high blood cholesterol, NSAID use, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medication were found to have a significant association.

Shift work and risk of incident gastroesophageal reflux disease: the association and mediation

Introduction

Shift work has become an increasingly common work mode globally. This study aimed to investigate the association between shift work and the risk of incident gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), an upward gastrointestinal disorder disease worldwide, and to explore the mediating factors.

Method

A total of 262,722 participants from the UK Biobank free of GORD and related gastrointestinal diseases were included to investigate the association and potential mediators between shift work and incident GORD. Multivariate-adjusted Cox models were used to evaluate the association between shift work status and GORD incidence.

Results

Compared to non-shift workers, shift workers had a 1.10-fold greater risk of incident GORD [95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.03, 1.18], after adjusting for a range of potential confounders. However, the excess risk of GORD attenuated to the null after further adjusting for selected mediators. Specifically, the association was mediated by sleep patterns (25.7%), healthy behaviors (16.8%), depressive symptoms (20.2%), chronic conditions (13.3%), and biological factors (17.6%). After adjustment for all the mediators together, the association was attenuated by 71.5%.

Discussion

Our findings indicated that long-term shift workers may have a higher risk of incident GORD, yet the excess risk may be explained by poor sleep quality, unhealthy behaviors, depressive symptoms, etc. This has positive implications for protecting the health of shift workers.

Correlation of Anxiety and Depression to the Development of Gastroesophageal Disease in the Younger Population

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition characterized by the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, which leads to heartburn and regurgitation. GERD has been categorized its types according to severity. The categories that have been discussed in this study are reflux esophagitis (RE), non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), and Barrett's esophagus. Our study compared various studies and showed that the subjects with GERD had a high level of anxiety and depression. Gastroesophageal reflux disease has a significant negative impact on the quality of life (QoL) by perturbing daily activities. The majority of GERD patients use antacid drugs to control their acid symptoms. However, these symptoms are sometimes difficult to control, even with the most potent proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), and these patients tend to have a lower response rate. According to the clinical data, Anxiety and Depression are linked to the development of GERD. A major focus of this study is to explore psychological influences such as anxiety and depression and how they relate to GERD. This study also reviews the effect of these conditions on the younger population. It is concluded that the quality of life (QoL) of subjects with GERD is reduced by depression and anxiety.