Value of GerdQ for diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract

Objective To explore the validation of the gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaires (GerdQ) for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods A total of 1 000 patients who existed of reflux symptoms were surveyed of in The People′s Hospital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from June 2013 to October 2014, which was used to investigate reflux - related symptoms including heartburn, reflux, epigastric pain, nausea, sleep disturbance, and additional medicine (over the counter medication). The results of their upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 24-hour esophageal pH-impedance monitoring were compared with GerdQ score to determine the diagnostic cut- off score for GERD and analyze the validation of the GerdQ for the diagnosis of GERD. Results GerdQ scores of GERD group focused primarily on 7-12 points, GerdQ scores of control group focused primarily on the following six points, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Taking 8 as GerdQ cut- off score for GERD, we got the maximal Youden index (0.51), in which the area under ROC was 0.765, with a sensitivity of 81.32% and specificity of 70.21%, the true positive diagnostic rate 83.24%, while true negative diagnostic rate 61.53%. Conclusion GerdQ is simple, easy, effective method, it can be used as the preliminary clinical diagnosis of GERD. Key words: Gastroesophageal reflux; GerdQ; Diagnosis