The Impact of Gender on the Symptom Presentation and Life Quality of Patients with Erosive Esophagitis and Non-Erosive Reflux Disease

Background/purpose: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be classified as erosive esophagitis (EE) or non-erosive reflux disorder (NERD) by endoscopic findings. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gender on symptom presentation and quality of life of patients with EE and NERD. Methods: Data from patients with GERD were collected between January and December 2009. The enrolled patients were assigned either to the EE or to the NERD group. The general demographic data, the modified Chinese GERDQ scores and the SF-36 life quality questionnaire scores of the three groups of patients were compared. Results: Among the 261 enrolled patients, 87, 86 and 88 patients were classified into the EE, NERD and control groups, respectively. The EE group patients were significantly older, predominately male, had more hiatal hernia, higher body weight and BMI, than those in the NERD group. GERD-specific symptom scores and general life quality scores of the EE and NERD groups were similar, and both groups had lower life quality scores than the control group did. The female patients with NERD had a higher frequency of GERD symptoms and lower quality of life scores. Gender had no effect on symptom scores or life quality scores in the EE group. Conclusion: The GERD-specific symptom severity and general quality of life scores of the EE and NERD patients were similar. Gender had a great influence on symptom presentation and life quality of patients with NERD, but not of those with EE.