[Gastroesophageal reflux disease among patients suffering from coronary artery disease]

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, the increasing frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurrence has been observed. Gastroesophageal reflux disease may take the form of so called 'heart mask' (i.e., chest pain) imitating ailments typical for the myocardial ischemia. The aim of this work was to evaluate frequency of GERD symptoms and the oesophagitis among patients suffering from angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease. The patients mentioned above were ordered to undergo CABG.

Material and methods: 134 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients were observed. All patients underwent collection of medical history and gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Results: Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms were found in 46 patients diagnosed with CAD what constitutes 34% of the total number of patients (28.3 vs. 3.4%, p = 0.00006). It has to be mentioned that oesophagitis was found more often among patients suffering from GERD (i.e., among 24% of the total number of patients). According to the Los Angeles classification, type A of the reflux oesophagitis occurred more frequently than type B did (A = 15.3%, B = 10.9%). Barrett's oesophagus had been observed among 5.5% ofpatients. Other complications of GERD had not been found. It is worth to emphasize that there was a significant statistical correlation between GERD, hiatal hernia, myocardial infarction and smoking.

Conclusions: Patients suffering from myocardial ischemia may often have GERD symptoms that are not accompanied by injury of oesophageal mucosae in most cases. Confirmation and explanation of the observed relation between the presence of hiatal hernia and infarction underwent require further research.