Abstract GERD Study 2017
The Effects of Global Osteopathic Treatment on Quality of Life With Those Suffering From Gastroeosphageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
ABSTRACT
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common, prevalent and multifactorial condition that negatively impacts all age groups worldwide and places a cost and burden on all those involved. Its typical presentation is heartburn and regurgitation precipitated when the stomach contents are allowed to backflow (reflux) into the esophagus resulting in troublesome symptoms and/or complications.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this pilot study was to demonstrate that global osteopathic treatment can improve a GERD sufferer’s health related quality of life (HRQoL) and decrease associated symptoms.
METHODS:The population in this study consisted of 8 adults: 3 males and 5 females between 22-58 of age, who had been suffering from diagnosed GERD with persistent symptoms. One of the symptoms required was a chronic cough and/or sore throat. A within subject design was used, utilizing 1 group of subjects that participated in all three sections of the three month (85 days) long study. The inital 4 week section provided a baseline measurement of the subject’s HRQoL and GERD symptoms. The measurement tools were two questionnaires, the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Assessment Scale (GSAS) that was filled out weekly, and the Quality of Life Questionnaire in Gastroesophageal Reflux (Reflux-Qual) that was filled out once every 4 weeks. There was no osteopathic intervention in the initial 4 weeks. In the second 4 week section, the subjects received an osteopathic session each week consisting of the osteopathic assessment and osteopathic treatment. During the third and final section, the subjects were evaluated for 4 more weeks without osteopathy using the GSAS and Reflux-Qual questionnaires.
RESULTS: Eight subjects participated in this study with 1 being omitted from the final results due to non-compliance in completing the GERD questionnaire measuring instruments. Witha planned contrast between week 5 (1st osteopathic treatment) and week 13 (end); there were statistically significant mean scores comparing mean differences: quality of life (QoL) scores (p-value=0.03); for heartburn and coughing frequency responses (p-value=0.01; for coughing and burning pain in the throat distress responses (p-value=0.04) and (P-value=0.01) respectively. No differences were detected with Tukey-Kramer adjusted p-values at alpha=0.05 level of significance between week 5 and 13.
CONCLUSION: Limited sample size and low power. HRQoL was seen to improve measured by the Reflux-Qual. Symptoms of heartburn, coughing and burning pain in the throat showed an overall decreasing trend in frequency and distress severity measured by the GSAS. Develop treatment protocols for specific GERD symptoms for research purposes. Broaden recruitment avenues to sponsorship and funding with more access to medical and health communities.
KEYWORDS: Acid Reflux, GERD, Heartburn, Regurgitation, Cough, Sore Throat, GSAS, QOL, Lower Esophageal Sphincter, Diaphragm
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common, prevalent and multifactorial condition that negatively impacts all age groups worldwide and places a cost and burden on all those involved. Its typical presentation is heartburn and regurgitation precipitated when the stomach contents are allowed to backflow (reflux) into the esophagus resulting in troublesome symptoms and/or complications.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this pilot study was to demonstrate that global osteopathic treatment can improve a GERD sufferer’s health related quality of life (HRQoL) and decrease associated symptoms.
METHODS:The population in this study consisted of 8 adults: 3 males and 5 females between 22-58 of age, who had been suffering from diagnosed GERD with persistent symptoms. One of the symptoms required was a chronic cough and/or sore throat. A within subject design was used, utilizing 1 group of subjects that participated in all three sections of the three month (85 days) long study. The inital 4 week section provided a baseline measurement of the subject’s HRQoL and GERD symptoms. The measurement tools were two questionnaires, the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Assessment Scale (GSAS) that was filled out weekly, and the Quality of Life Questionnaire in Gastroesophageal Reflux (Reflux-Qual) that was filled out once every 4 weeks. There was no osteopathic intervention in the initial 4 weeks. In the second 4 week section, the subjects received an osteopathic session each week consisting of the osteopathic assessment and osteopathic treatment. During the third and final section, the subjects were evaluated for 4 more weeks without osteopathy using the GSAS and Reflux-Qual questionnaires.
RESULTS: Eight subjects participated in this study with 1 being omitted from the final results due to non-compliance in completing the GERD questionnaire measuring instruments. Witha planned contrast between week 5 (1st osteopathic treatment) and week 13 (end); there were statistically significant mean scores comparing mean differences: quality of life (QoL) scores (p-value=0.03); for heartburn and coughing frequency responses (p-value=0.01; for coughing and burning pain in the throat distress responses (p-value=0.04) and (P-value=0.01) respectively. No differences were detected with Tukey-Kramer adjusted p-values at alpha=0.05 level of significance between week 5 and 13.
CONCLUSION: Limited sample size and low power. HRQoL was seen to improve measured by the Reflux-Qual. Symptoms of heartburn, coughing and burning pain in the throat showed an overall decreasing trend in frequency and distress severity measured by the GSAS. Develop treatment protocols for specific GERD symptoms for research purposes. Broaden recruitment avenues to sponsorship and funding with more access to medical and health communities.
KEYWORDS: Acid Reflux, GERD, Heartburn, Regurgitation, Cough, Sore Throat, GSAS, QOL, Lower Esophageal Sphincter, Diaphragm