A preliminary test of gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire serving as auxiliary diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants and young children

Abstract

Objective To preliminarily test the value of gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire(GERD-Q) in auxiliary diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) in infants and young children. Methods From January 2011 to February 2014, 148 infants and 87 young children with suspected GERD symptoms were enrolled in the outpatient and inpatient departments of Wuhan Women and Children's Medical Care Center.The diagnosis of GERD were made through 24 h esophageal pH monitoring and upper gastrointestinal hysterosalpingography.Those with any examinations being positive were brought into GERD group, and the others into the control group.All cases had been surveyed with GERD-Q.Using SPSS17.0 statistical software, the ratio was compared with chi-square test, and the difference of the scores between groups with t test. Results In infants(1 to 11 months), the individual symptom scores(ISS) of the 6 symptoms in the GERD group(n=111) were all higher than those in the control group(37 cases)(P<0.05), and the composite and symptom scores(CSS)[(131.43±66.56) scores] in the GERD group was higher than that[(33.70±40.03) scores] in the control group(t=8.42, P<0.05). In young children(1 to 3 years old), the ISS in the GERD group(55 cases) were all higher than those in the control group(32 cases), and the CSS[(98.58±66.75)scores] in the GERD group was also higher than that[(28.50±35.95)scores] in the control group(t=5.49, P<0.05). Conclusions There is a good correlation for age-specific GERD-Q to distinguish GERD symptoms in infants and young children, which is suitable for the assessment of GERD. Key words: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Questionnaire; Auxiliary diagnosis; Infants and young children