The Role of Anxiety and IBS in Atypical GORD Symptoms v1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The Role of Anxiety and IBS in Atypical Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Symptoms

• IRAS ID

  315349

• Contact name

  Nigel Trudgill

• Contact email

  nigel.trudgill@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 5 months, 3 days

• Research summary

  Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), also called indigestion, is a common condition where stomach contents move up into the food pipe (reflux) which typically causes a burning sensation (heartburn) and chest pain symptoms. GORD can also cause less common (atypical) symptoms such as a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing and burping.

  For some patients with indigestion, medication does not help their symptoms. These patients may be invited to a hospital to have a test called ’24-hour pH impedance monitoring’. This test measures how much acid refluxes from the stomach into the food pipe over 24 hours and whether their indigestion symptoms are related to this reflux.
  Anecdotally, since the Covid-19 pandemic there has been an increase in referrals for patients with atypical reflux symptoms. Research suggests that Covid-19 has led to an increase in anxiety in the general population. Previous studies have suggested that anxiety can trigger some atypical symptoms and make common (typical) symptoms feel worse.

  This study aims to find out whether patients with atypical reflux symptoms have higher anxiety levels than patients with typical symptoms, whether they also have less reflux and whether reflux is triggering their symptoms. We are also interested to see whether patients with atypical symptoms are more likely to experience irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms.

  To do this we will invite all patients who have been referred for 24-hour pH impedance monitoring to fill out 2 short questionnaires when they come for their test. Then we will carry out the test as normal.

  This research is important because by showing a link between anxiety, reflux symptoms and IBS we could reduce the need for patients to undergo some invasive tests. It would also suggest the importance of treatment for anxiety in helping patients to manage their symptoms, leading to improved quality of life.

• REC name

  North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/NE/0222

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 Dec 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion