Screening and Identifying Erosive Esophagitis in Children with Non-cardiac Chest Pain

Non-cardiac chest pain is a common disorder that leads to costly evaluations to distinguish it from cardiac pain. The present study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of erosive esophagitis in children with non-cardiac chest pain. Ninety nine patients (mean age, 9.55 ± 2.95 years, 49 girls) with non-cardiac chest pain were enrolled. Patients were classified into two groups: erosive esophagitis and non-erosive esophagitis-related non-cardiac chest pain by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Children in the erosive esophagitis-related non-cardiac chest pain group were significantly older (10.95 ± 2.54 years vs. 8.52 ± 2.83 years). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following predictors of gastroesophageal reflux: chest pain related to sleep (odds ratio = 18.05, 95% confidence interval: 3.18–102.49); unfavorable dietary habits (odds ratio = 7.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.53–32.87); chest pain related to food (odds ratio = 5.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.37–18.86); epigastric pain (odds ratio = 3.73, 95% confidence interval: 1.12–12.33); and nausea, vomiting, and/or regurgitation (odds ratio = 4.35, 95% confidence interval: 1.22–15.54). Gastroesophageal reflux disease should be considered first in children with non-cardiac chest pain. Children with gastroesophageal reflux disease should receive medical treatment and lifestyle modifications.