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Prevalence and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children and adolescents: a nationwide cross-sectional observational study

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Abstract

This cross-sectional observational study aimed to determine the nationwide prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in French children and adolescents. Four hundred four general practitioners and 180 paediatricians compiled a register of all children and adolescents (n = 10,394, aged 0 to 17 years, mean 3.8 ± 5.6 years) who presented over two 3-day periods. For all children who, in the physician's opinion, showed symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GOR), a 24-item questionnaire covering the history and management of GOR was completed. Children with symptoms that impaired their daily lives were defined as having GORD, the remainder as having physiological GOR. Of the patients, 15.1 % showed GOR symptoms. Extrapolation to the overall French population yielded a prevalence of 10.3 % for GOR and 6.2 % for GORD. There was a significantly (p < 0.05) greater use of volume reduction or milk thickeners and dorsal positioning among infants with GORD versus physiological GOR. Significantly (p < 0.05) more of the infants and children with GORD received pharmacological therapy. The use of proton pump inhibitors increased with age but was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among those with GORD. Conclusions: Ten percent of French children and adolescents show GOR symptoms and 6 % have GORD. Clinical presentation and treatment vary in different age groups, but those with GORD are more likely to require pharmacological treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr Ann McIlhinney, who was funded by AstraZeneca France to assist in the preparation of this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

Pierre-Henri Delaage (PHD), Florence Thomas (FT), Philippe Barthelemy (PB) are employees of 300 AstraZeneca.

Sources of funding and role of sponsor

The study was funded by AstraZeneca France.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité Inserm U995, Service de Gastroentérologie, Hépatologie et Nutrition Pédiatrique, Pôle Enfant, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHRU de Lille, Avenue Eugène Avinée, 59037, Lille Cedex, France

    Léonie Martigne & Frédéric Gottrand

  2. AstraZeneca, Rueil Malmaison, France

    Pierre-Henri Delaage, Florence Thomas-Delecourt & Philippe Barthélémy

  3. TNS Healthcare, Montrouge, France

    Geneviève Bonnelye

Authors
  1. Léonie Martigne
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  2. Pierre-Henri Delaage
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  3. Florence Thomas-Delecourt
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  4. Geneviève Bonnelye
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  5. Philippe Barthélémy
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  6. Frédéric Gottrand
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frédéric Gottrand.

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Martigne, L., Delaage, PH., Thomas-Delecourt, F. et al. Prevalence and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children and adolescents: a nationwide cross-sectional observational study. Eur J Pediatr 171, 1767–1773 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1807-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-012-1807-4

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