Clinical and Economic Assessment of the Omeprazole Test in Patients With Symptoms Suggestive of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

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Abstract
GASTROESOPHAGEAL reflux disease (GERD), usually defined as symptoms or tissue damage related to esophageal exposure to gastric contents, is common in the US adult population.1 Heartburn and acid regurgitation are considered typical symptoms of GERD and the basis for initiating medical treatment in many patients.2,3 The prevalence of heartburn or acid regurgitation experienced at least annually or weekly is 58.7 or 19.8, respectively, per 100 people.4 Less than half of all patients with typical GERD symptoms have erosive esophagitis on upper endoscopy.5 Moreover, up to 20% of patients with typical heartburn have normal upper endoscopy and ambulatory 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring results.6,7 Using Rome criteria, this group of patients has been categorized as having functional heartburn.6 The cause of symptoms, natural course, and response to treatment of this large group of patients remains to be fully elucidated.