Outcome of nonerosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease patients with pathological acid exposure

Table 1 Clinical and demographic characteristics of patient population (mean ± SD)

M/F	121/139
Age ( yr)	49.5 ± 14
BMI	25.24 ± 3.7
EAE (%)
24 h	6.8 ± 5.4
Upright	5.6 ± 6.6
Supine	6.8 ± 7.6
No. of smokers	132
Patients with predominant typical symptoms	103 (39.6%)
Patients with predominant atypical symptoms	142 (54.6%)
Patients with both typical & atypical predominant symptoms	15 (5.7%)

EAE: Esophageal acid exposure; BMI: Body mass index.

Table 2 Variables associated with development of esophagitis in NERD patients: results of the univariate analysis

Risk factor	Odds ratio (95% CI)	P value
Smoking	3.1 (1.6-6.04)	0.0006
Regurgitation > 1/wk	3.5 (1.9-6.6)	0.0001
Severe regurgitation	2.6 (1.35-4.8)	0.005
Nocturnal regurgitation	2.4 (1.2-4.7)	0.01
Supine reflux time > 1.2	5.3 (0.8-38.9)	0.03
Continuing PPI therapy	0.3 (0.1-0.6)	0.001

Note that “continuing PPI therapy” has a negative odds ratio, and can therefore be considered as a protective factor against development of esophagitis. NERD: Nonerosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease; PPI: Proton pump inhibitor.

Table 3 Baseline reflux parameters of pH-metry and BMI in patients showing a progression at follow-up vs those not showing development of esophagitis (mean ± SD)

	% time of esophageal pH < 4			BMI values (kg/m2)
	Total	Upright	Supine
Patients developing esophagitis at follow-up	5.1 ± 1.6	3.2 ± 2.6	6.2 ± 2.4	25.2 ± 3.6
Patients not developing esophagitis at follow-up	7.2 ± 5.6	6.2 ± 7.2	6.9 ± 8.5	25.3 ± 0.5
P value	> 0.5	> 0.5	> 0.5	> 0.5

Table 4 Variables associated with development of esophagitis in NERD patients: results of the multivariate analysis (complete model)

Risk factor	Odds ratio (95% CI)	P value
Smoking	2.9 (1.4-6.2)	0.0055
Ongoing PPI therapy	0.2 (0.09-0.7)	0.04