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. 2009 Apr 14;15(14):1764-8.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1764.

Prevalence of linked angina and gastroesophageal reflux disease in general practice

Hirohito Kato  1 , Takamasa Ishii, Tatsuo Akimoto, Yoshihisa Urita, Motonobu Sugimoto
Affiliations

Prevalence of linked angina and gastroesophageal reflux disease in general practice

Hirohito Kato et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the association between gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD) and coronary heart diseases.

Methods: One thousand nine hundred and seventy consecutive patients who attended our hospital were enrolled. All of the patients who first attend our hospital were asked to respond to the F-scale questionnaire regardless of their chief complaints. All patients had a careful history taken, and resting echocardiography (ECG) was performed by physicians if the diagnostic necessity arose. Patients with ECG signs of coronary artery ischemia were defined as ST-segment depression based on the Minnesota code.

Results: Among 712 patients (36%) with GERD, ECG was performed in 171 (24%), and ischemic changes were detected in eight (5%). Four (50%) of these patients with abnormal findings upon ECG had no chest symptoms such as chest pain, chest oppression, or palpitations. These patients (0.6%; 4/712) were thought to have non-GERD heartburn, which may be related to ischemic heart disease. Of 281 patients who underwent ECG and did not have GERD symptoms, 20 (7%) had abnormal findings upon ECG. In patients with GERD symptoms and ECG signs of coronary artery ischemia, the prevalence of linked angina was considered to be 0.4% (8/1970 patients).

Conclusion: The present study suggested that ischemic heart disease might be found although a patient was referred to the hospital with a complaint of GERD symptoms. Physicians have to be concerned about missing clinically important coronary artery disease while evaluating patients for GERD symptoms.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of linked angina based on symptoms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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