Impaired gastric motility and its relationship to reflux symptoms in patients with nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease

Background  More than half of patients with refluxrelated symptoms have no endoscopic evidence of mucosal breaks. These patients are considered to have nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD). The pathogenesis of NERD may be multifactorial, but the role played by gastric motility in symptom generation in patients with NERD has not been examined. In this study, we elucidate gastric motility in patients with NERD and the efficacy of a prokinetic agent in the treatment of NERD. Methods  Gastric motility was evaluated with electrogastrography (EGG) and by measurement of gastric emptying using the acetaminophen method in 26 patients with NERD and in 11 matched healthy controls. NERD patients were treated with a prokinetic agent (mosapride 15 mg, orally three times daily) for a period of 4 weeks, after which gastric motility was measured again. Results  Compared with the healthy controls, the NERD patients showed a significantly lower percentage of normogastria, a lower power ratio in EGG, and delayed gastric emptying. Ten patients had normal gastric motor function (group A), and 16 showed abnormalities of either gastric myoelectrical activity or gastric emptying (group B). After treatment with mosapride, gastric motility improved significantly in both groups of patients compared with pretreatment values. The subjective assessment by the patient after the treatment was improved in 20.0% of group A versus 62.5% of group B patients (P < 0.05). Conclusions  Gastric hypomotility appears to be an important factor in reflux symptom generation in some NERD patients.     

胃食管反流病中非酸反流的比例及其与烧心的关系

目的 应用食管联合阻抗-pH监测技术探讨胃食管反流病中非酸反流的比例及其与烧心的相关程度.方法 选取消化专科门诊以烧心为主诉的连续病例,通过上消化道内镜将上述患者分为糜烂性食管炎(EE)组和非糜烂性反流病(NERD)组,并进一步通过24 h食管多通道腔内阻抗-pH监测及雷贝拉唑试验性治疗予以确诊.比较两组的联合阻抗-pH监测指标.结果 EE组36例,NERD组62例.两组患者酸反流次数、酸反流时间百分比差异有统计学意义(P值分别=0.001和0.002).EE组和NERD组中非酸反流次数的百分比分别为37.3%(663/1777)和44.3%(1220/2754),差异有统计学意义(x=21.723,P=0.000).EE组酸反流烧心症状指数阳性、非酸反流烧心症状指数阳性及总反流烧心症状指数阳性的百分比分别为36.1%(13/36)、19.4%(7/36)和55.6%(20/36),NERD组则为27.4%(17/62)、6.4%(4/62)和33.8%(21/62).结论 EE组和NERD组患者中非酸反流次数的比例分别为37.3%及44.3%,非酸反流与烧心关系密切.     

Helicobacter pylori infection, pattern of gastritis, and symptoms in erosive and nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the characteristics of gastritis and symptoms of patients with erosive and nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: We studied 202 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of GERD (symptoms score and endoscopy): group A (n = 110), erosive GERD; group B (n = 92), nonerosive GERD; 200 patients with upper abdominal complaints without abnormalities at endoscopy (functional dyspepsia, group C); and 200 asymptomatic controls tested for H. pylori serum antibody (group D). Antral and body biopsy specimens were taken for histology and the rapid urease test in groups A, B, and C. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in groups B and C (62% and 55%, respectively) than in A and D (36% and 40%) (P < 0.05). In positive patients H. pylori colonization and gastritis grade scores in the gastric body were higher in nonerosive than in erosive GERD and functional dyspepsia (P < 0.05). No differences in H. pylori colonization or gastritis grades were found in the antrum. Fifty-nine patients with nonerosive GERD (64%) and 42 with erosive GERD (38%) showed other dyspeptic symptoms associated with reflux symptoms (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori prevalence is higher in patients with nonerosive GERD than in normal subjects and in patients with erosive GERD and similar to that of patients with dyspepsia. Patients with nonerosive GERD often show dyspeptic symptoms and higher H. pylori colonization and inflammation grades in the proximal stomach. Our data support the hypothesis that in GERD H. pylori gastritis may, on the one hand, protect against the development of esophageal erosions and, on the other, contribute to the esophageal hypersensitivity to acid which is a feature of GERD.     

Rabeprazole in nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: Clinical results to date suggest that antisecretory therapy may be less effective in providing symptom relief for patients with nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) than for patients with erosive disease. This study was carried out to assess the efficacy and rapidity of once-daily rabeprazole (10 mg or 20 mg) in relieving symptoms in endoscopically negative patients with moderately severe GERD symptoms and to evaluate the safety of these doses over 4 wk. METHODS: This placebo-controlled, double blind study enrolled 203 men and women with moderately severe symptoms of GERD. After a 2-wk, single-blind placebo run-in phase, patients were randomized to receive 10 mg or 20 mg of rabeprazole or placebo once daily for 4 wk. RESULTS: Rabeprazole rapidly and effectively relieved heartburn, with significant improvements on day 1 of dosing. It also improved most other GERD-related symptoms, including regurgitation, belching, bloating, early satiety, and nausea. Both rabeprazole doses were significantly superior to the placebo with respect to time to the first 24-h heartburn-free interval (2.5 and 4.5 days for 10 mg and 20 mg of rabeprazole, respectively, vs 21.5 days for the placebo) and first daytime or nighttime heartburn-free interval (1.5-3 days for rabeprazole groups vs 12.5-15 days for the placebo), as well as to percentage of time patients were heartburn-free and free of antacid use. Both rabeprazole doses were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings and prior studies, rabeprazole reliably relieves GI symptoms equally well in both nonerosive GERD and erosive GERD.     

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in Japan

Background and Aim:  Epidemiological studies have shown that 10–48% of people in developed countries have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of GERD symptoms and GERD in Japanese subjects.
Methods:  A cross-sectional study of Japanese subjects who visited a clinic for a routine health check up was carried out. Subjects were asked to fill out a self-report questionnaire. GERD was defined as the presence of heartburn and/or acid regurgitation at least twice per week.
Results:  Of the 6035 eligible subjects, 2662 (44.1%) reported having had heartburn and/or acid regurgitation during the past year: 124 (2.1%) daily, 275 (4.6%) twice per week, 773 (12.8%) twice per month and 1490 (24.7%) less than twice per month. Three hundred and ninety-nine (6.6%) subjects were diagnosed as having GERD and there was no relationship between the prevalence of GERD and either sex or age. The prevalence of bothersome GERD symptoms was significantly higher in subjects with GERD than in those without GERD.
Conclusion:  Approximately 6.6% of Japanese have GERD and most persons with GERD described heartburn or acid regurgitation as bothersome.     

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms in Japan

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Epidemiological studies have shown that 10-48% of people in developed countries have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of GERD symptoms and GERD in Japanese subjects. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of Japanese subjects who visited a clinic for a routine health check up was carried out. Subjects were asked to fill out a self-report questionnaire. GERD was defined as the presence of heartburn and/or acid regurgitation at least twice per week. RESULTS: Of the 6035 eligible subjects, 2662 (44.1%) reported having had heartburn and/or acid regurgitation during the past year: 124 (2.1%) daily, 275 (4.6%) twice per week, 773 (12.8%) twice per month and 1490 (24.7%) less than twice per month. Three hundred and ninety-nine (6.6%) subjects were diagnosed as having GERD and there was no relationship between the prevalence of GERD and either sex or age. The prevalence of bothersome GERD symptoms was significantly higher in subjects with GERD than in those without GERD. CONCLUSION: Approximately 6.6% of Japanese have GERD and most persons with GERD described heartburn or acid regurgitation as bothersome.     

Females without reflux symptoms or gastroesophageal reflux disease have less distal esophageal acid exposure than males without reflux symptoms or gastroesophageal reflux disease

Ambulatory 24‐hour esophageal pH monitoring is the gold standard examination to assess esophageal acid exposure. Gender‐related variation is a well‐recognized physiologic phenomenon in health and disease. To date, limited gender‐specific 24‐hour esophageal pH monitoring data are available. The aim of this study was to obtain values of esophageal pH monitoring in males and females without reflux symptoms or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to determine if gender variation exists in esophageal acid exposure among individuals without these factors. Twenty‐four‐hour dual esophageal pH monitoring was performed in male and female volunteers without reflux symptoms or GERD. Values for total number of reflux episodes, episodes longer than 5 minutes, total reflux time in minutes, % time with pH below 4, and longest reflux episode in the proximal/distal esophagus were obtained and recorded for both groups. The distal channel was placed 5 cm and proximal channel 15 cm above the manometrically determined lower esophageal sphincter. Means were compared using an independent sample t‐test. Sixty‐seven males and 69 females were enrolled. All subjects completed esophageal 24‐hour pH monitoring without difficulty. There was no age or body mass difference between groups. Females had significantly fewer reflux episodes at both esophageal measuring sites and, significantly less total reflux time and % time with pH below 4 in the distal esophagus than males. All other parameters were similar. Significant gender‐related differences exist in esophageal acid exposure, especially in the distal esophagus in individuals without reflux symptoms or GERD. These differences underscore the need for gender‐specific reference values for 24‐hour pH monitoring, allowing for an accurate evaluation of esophageal acid exposure in symptomatic patients.     

Correlation between oesophageal acid exposure and dyspeptic symptoms in patients with nonerosive reflux disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Oesophageal acidification induces dyspeptic symptoms in healthy individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between oesophageal acid exposure and dyspeptic symptoms in patients with nonerosive reflux disease. METHODS: A total of 68 patients with dominant symptoms of heartburn, negative upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and concomitant dyspeptic symptoms participated in the study. The severity of dyspepsia and reflux-related symptoms was evaluated, and 24-h gastro-oesophageal pH-monitoring study was performed in all patients at baseline and after 4 weeks of therapy with esomeprazole 40 mg. RESULTS: Oesophageal basal acid exposure was pathological in 43 patients and normal in 25 patients, with a similar prevalence and severity of individual dyspeptic symptoms in the two groups. A significant correlation between reflux and dyspepsia scores was observed in the subgroup of patients with normal, but not in those with abnormal pHmetry (r=0.4, P=0.04 and r=0.2 P=0.07, respectively). After esomeprazole, a reduction in severity of dyspepsia (>or=50% with respect to baseline) was observed, independent of improvement of reflux-associated symptoms. Improvement in dyspepsia was, however, similar in patients with normal and abnormal basal acid exposure (14/25 vs. 33/43, respectively, P=NS). CONCLUSION: Dyspeptic symptoms coexist in a subset of nonerosive reflux disease patients, but prevalence and severity of the symptoms seems to be independent of oesophageal acid exposure.     

Effect of gluten-free diet on preventing recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms in adult celiac patients with nonerosive reflux disease

Background and Aim:  In Celiac Disease (CD) the role of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on gastroesophageal reflux disease–related symptoms (GERD-rs) is unclear. The aim of this study was to establish the recurrence of GERD-rs, in CD patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD).
Methods:  From a total of 105 adult CD patients observed, 29 who presented with the NERD form were enrolled in the study. Thirty non-CD patients with NERD were studied as controls. Recurrence of GERD-rs was clinically assessed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months follow-up (FU) after withdrawal of initial proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment for 8 weeks.
Results:  GERD-rs were resolved in 25 (86.2%) CD patients and in 20 (66.7%) controls after 8 weeks of PPI treatment. In the CD group, recurrence of GERD-rs was found in five cases (20%) at 6 months but in none at 12, 18, and 24 months while in the control group recurrence was found in six of 20 controls (30%), in another six (12/20, 60%), in another three (15/20, 75%), and in another two (17/20, 85%) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months FU respectively.
Conclusions:  The present study is the first to have evaluated the effect of a GFD in the nonerosive form of GERD in CD patients, by means of clinical long-term follow-up, suggesting that GFD could be a useful approach in reducing GERD symptoms and in the prevention of recurrence.     

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in asthma patients without reflux symptoms

Gastroesophageal reflux is a potential trigger of asthma that may be clinically silent. This study examines the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in asthma patients without reflux symptoms. This prospective cohort study evaluated 26 patients with stable asthma without reflux symptoms using esophageal manometry and 24-h esophageal pH testing. Gastroesophageal reflux was considered present if esophageal acid contact times were abnormal. Demographic variables were analyzed to determine if they predicted the presence of gastroesophageal reflux. Asthma patients with asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux were compared with 30 age-matched asthma patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. The prevalence of abnormal 24-h esophageal pH tests in asthma patients without reflux symptoms was 62% (16 of 26). Demographic variables did not predict abnormal 24-h esophageal pH tests in asthma patients with asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Asthma patients with asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux had higher amounts of proximal esophageal acid exposure (p < 0.05) compared with asthma patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Because demographic variables do not predict abnormal 24-h esophageal pH tests in asthma patients without reflux symptoms, 24-h esophageal pH testing is required. This study suggests that gastroesophageal reflux is present in asthma patients, even in the absence of esophageal symptoms.     

Relevance of ineffective esophageal motility with erosive and nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease

Introduction: Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is a frequent finding in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is responsible for delayed acid clearance as it affects esophageal emptying and saliva transport. Since erosive GERD is a more severe disease than nonerosive GERD, it may be associated with IEM, which delays esophageal clearance. Objective : We investigated the role of IEM in patients with erosive and nonerosive GERD. Methods: We enrolled 100 patients with heartburn and a primary diagnosis of GERD referred to the GI motility department of RCGLD of Shahid Beheshti University between January 2002 and January 2005. Based on endoscopic findings, the patients were classified into two groups of erosive GERD and nonerosive GERD. Manometry and 24-hour ambulatory pH-metry was performed in all patients. Results: Seventy-seven patients completed the study: 31 (40.3%) with erosive GERD and 46 (59.7%) with nonerosive GERD. IEM was present in 38.7% of patients with erosive GERD and in 28.3% of those with nonerosive GERD (p=0.18). A low lower esophageal sphincter pressure was present in 45.2% of patients with erosive GERD, and in 45.7% of those with nonerosive GERD (p=0.97). Abnormal acid reflux was present in 32.3% and 41.3% of patients with erosive and nonerosive GERD, respectively (p=0.42). Conclusion: There was no difference in the prevalence of IEM between patients with erosive and nonerosive GERD. IEM could be an integral part of GERD and may not always be associated with mucosal injury.     

How reflux causes symptoms: Reflux perception in gastroesophageal reflux disease

In gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms arise due to reflux of gastric content into the oesophagus. However, the relation between magnitude and onset of reflux and symptom generation in GERD patients is far from simple; gastroesophageal reflux occurs several times a day in everyone and the majority of reflux episodes remains asymptomatic. This review aims to address the question how reflux causes symptoms, focussing on factors leading to enhanced reflux perception. We will highlight esophageal sensitivity variance between subtypes of GERD, which is influenced by peripheral sensitization of primary afferents, central sensitization of spinal dorsal horn neurons, impaired mucosal barrier function and genetic factors. We will also discuss the contribution of specific refluxate characteristics to reflux perception, including acidity, and the role of bile, pepsin and gas and proximal extent. Further understanding of reflux perception might improve GERD treatment, especially in current partial responders to therapy.     

Lansoprazole compared with ranitidine for the treatment of nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, proton pump inhibitors are used primarily for patients with esophagitis. However, patients with nonerosive reflux disease may also benefit from these powerful medications. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and symptom relief efficacy of lansoprazole with ranitidine therapy and with placebo. METHODS: In 2 randomized, double-blind, multicenter trials of 901 patients with symptomatic reflux disease, which was confirmed by endoscopy to be nonerosive, received lansoprazole, 15 or 30 mg once daily; ranitidine, 150 mg twice daily; or placebo for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Analysis of daily diary data during the first 4 weeks and for the entire 8 weeks of treatment revealed that patients who were treated with either dosage of lansoprazole reported significantly (P<.05) lower percentages of days and nights with heartburn, less pain severity of both day and night heartburn, fewer days of antacid use, and smaller amounts of antacid use compared with patients who were treated with ranitidine or placebo. The incidence of possible or probable treatment-related adverse reactions was comparable among the treatment groups; abdominal pain and diarrhea were the most commonly reported adverse events. No statistically significant differences were noted between treatment groups in laboratory analyses. CONCLUSION: Lansoprazole therapy is more effective than standard dosages of ranitidine or placebo in relieving symptoms in patients with endoscopically confirmed non-erosive reflux esophagitis.     

Increased prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with COPD

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms in patients with COPD and the association of GER symptoms with the severity of airways obstruction as assessed by pulmonary function tests (PFTs). DESIGN: Prospective questionnaire-based, cross-sectional analytic survey. SETTING: Outpatient pulmonary and general medicine clinics at a Veterans Administration hospital. PATIENTS: Patients with mild-to-severe COPD (n = 100) were defined based on American Thoracic Society criteria. The control group (n = 51) consisted of patients in the general medicine clinic without respiratory complaints or prior diagnosis of asthma or COPD. INTERVENTION: Both groups completed a modified version of the Mayo Clinic GER questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared to control subjects, a greater proportion of COPD patients had significant GER symptoms defined as heartburn and/or regurgitation once or more per week (19% vs 0%, respectively; p < 0.001), chronic cough (32% vs 16%; p = 0.03), and dysphagia (17% vs 4%; p = 0.02). Among patients with COPD and significant GER symptoms, 26% reported respiratory symptoms associated with reflux events, whereas control subjects denied an association. Significant GER symptoms were more prevalent in COPD patients with FEV(1) < or %, as compared with patients with FEV(1) > 50% of predicted (23% vs 9%, respectively; p = 0.08). In contrast, PFT results were similar among COPD patients with and without GER symptoms. An increased number of patients with COPD utilized antireflux medications, compared to control subjects (50% vs 27%, respectively; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire demonstrated a higher prevalence of weekly GER symptoms in patients with COPD, as compared to control subjects. There was a trend toward higher prevalence of GER symptoms in patients with severe COPD; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. We speculate that although GER may not worsen pulmonary function, greater expiratory airflow limitation may worsen GER symptoms in patients with COPD.     

Laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) has been extensively studied in patients with laryngeal signs and symptoms, gastroesophageal reflux being identified in approximately 50%. Few studies have investigated the incidence and significance of LPR in GERD patients. Two-hundred and seventy-six consecutive patients referred with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux had dual probe 24 h pH, esophageal manometry, GERD and ENT questionnaires. LPR was defined as at least three pharyngeal reflux events less than pH 5.0 with corresponding esophageal reflux, but excluding meal periods. Fourty-two percent of patients were positive for LPR on 24 h pH monitoring and 91.3% corresponded with an abnormal esophageal acid score. Distal esophageal acid exposure was significantly greater (P < 0.001) in patients with LPR but symptoms of GERD and regurgitation scores showed no significant differences between patients with positive and negative LPR on 24 h pH. There was no significant difference between the incidence of LPR in patients with or without laryngeal symptoms. There is a high incidence of LPR in patients with GERD but its significance for laryngeal symptoms is tenuous. Fixed distance dual probe pH monitoring allows documentation of conventional esophageal reflux and LPR.     

酸和胆汁反流与胃食管反流症状的关系

目的 分析酸反流及胆汁反流在引起胃食管反流症状中的作用。方法 对56例有典型反流症状的患者进行24小时食管内pH值及BiHtee胆汁同步监测。患者通过症状按键标记典型反流症状，对每一症状事件按症状发生前2分钟内食管最低pH值和最高胆红素光吸收值，分别计算症状与酸反流或胆汁反流事件的相关性，得出每一例患者的酸反流相关症状指数(Sla)及胆汁反流相关症状指数(SIb)。结果 56例患者中共发生典型症状事件357次。其中大部分症状(37．25％)与酸反流有关，仅7．56％的症状与单纯胆汁反流有关。反流性食管炎组(RE)亚组的243次症状事件中，105次(43．21％)事件与酸反流相关，而21次(8．64％)与胆汁反流有关。两种症状相关指数均值比较差异有显著性。结论 胃食管反流症状事件与酸反流的相关性明显高于胆汁反流，胆汁反流在引起典型食管症状方面似乎不起主要作用。     

Composite score of reflux symptoms in diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease

AIM: To evaluate the significance of the composite score of reflux symptoms in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to determine the relationship of the composite score with reflux esophagitis (RE) and pathological gastroesophageal reflux (PGER). METHODS: Upper digestive endoscopy and /or 24-h esophageal pH monitoring were performed in 244 subjects. Of these, 54 were consecutive patients attending our clinic with symptoms suggestive of GERD, and 190 were randomly selected from 2532 respondents who participated in our previous general population-based study on GERD. A standardized questionnaire was used to classify both the frequency and severity of typical symptoms of GERD (heartburn, acid and food regurgitation) using a 4-score scale, and the composite score of main reflux symptoms (score index: SI, range from 0 to 18) were calculated for every subject. RE was diagnosed according to the Savary-Miller criteria. Subjects with abnormal pH-metry (DeMeester score more than 14.7) were considered to have PGER. GERD patients were defined as the subjects with RE and/or PGER. RESULTS: The sensitivity of SI in the diagnosis of GERD was inversely associated with SI, but the specificity tended to increase with increased SI. With the cut-off of 8, the SI achieved the highest accuracy of 70.0%, with a sensitivity of 78.6% and a specificity of 69.2% in diagnosing GERD, followed by the cut-off of 3, which had an accuracy of 62.1%, a sensitivity of 96.4% and a specificity of 34.6%. The prevalence of RE, PGER and GERD was strongly associated with increased SI (P<0.01), but there was no significant association between the severity of RE and SI (P>0.05). Among patients with RE, 69.2% had PGER, and 30.8% were confirmed to have negative findings of pH monitoring. Among patients with PGER, 52.9% were identified to have RE and 47.1% had negative endscopic findings in esophagus. CONCLUSION: According to the composite score of main reflux symptoms, the diagnosis of GERD can be made without further tests in most cases. However, 24-h esophageal pH monitoring and upper digestive endoscopy are still indicated in patients with mild and atypical symptoms.     

A population-based survey to assess troublesome symptoms in gastroesophageal reflux disease

Objective. A simple frequency and severity threshold for categorizing reflux symptoms as troublesome has been suggested, but there is a lack of confirmatory studies for this threshold. The objectives of this study were to examine the characteristics for troublesome symptoms and to compare different ways of categorizing reflux symptoms as troublesome. Material and methods. Members of a web panel responding to an e-mail invitation (1623/3506, median age interval 40–44 years, 51% female) who reported reflux symptoms during the preceding 4 weeks (n=1284) were linked to the full questionnaire. Associations between self-reported troublesome symptoms (10-graded VAS) and troublesome symptoms (mild symptoms >1 day/week or moderate/severe symptoms ≥ 1 day/week) and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results. Out of 1284 subjects, 482 (38%) reported reflux symptoms. Agreement on the classification of troublesome symptoms based on frequency and severity and self-reported troublesome symptoms was poor to fair. Using 4 as the cut-off point on the VAS showed the best agreement (kappa = 0.35). Of the 482 symptomatic respondents, 266 (55%) had troublesome symptoms based on frequency and severity and 274 (57%) had self-reported troublesome symptoms. Subjects (n=80) who had self-reported troublesome symptoms, but were not categorized as having troublesome symptoms based on frequency and severity, reported health concerns, work productivity loss and medical treatment significantly more often (p≤0.03) than subjects (n=194) with troublesome symptoms according to both categorizations. Conclusions. Classification of troublesome reflux symptoms based on frequency and severity is too simplistic. Health concerns, disrupted work productivity and night-time symptoms add to the perception of symptoms as troublesome.