A survey of almost 2,000 people with gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD ) found that approximately half have trouble sleeping, which affects their work productivity and leisure activities.
The survey of GERD sufferers in Europe and the U.S. showed GERD reduced work productivity by 15 percent and impaired leisure activities by 22 percent in people with GERD-related sleep disturbance.
Approximately 61 million patients in the United States are struggling to control the symptoms of GERD.
About 75 to 80 percent of GERD patients say their symptoms occur at night.

Gastroesoghageal reflux disease (GERD) is the regular rising backward flow ( reflux ) of acid from the stomach into the esophagus.
If the acid backs up as far as the throat and voice box, then the sleeper may wake up coughing and choking. If the acid only backs up as far as the esophagus, then the most common symptom is heartburn.
The symptoms most likely to wake them include persistent cough, pain, feeling of a heart attack, lower stomach pain, burning sensation in the chest, heartburn, stomach upset, and nausea.
However, some GERD sufferers may not experience any symptoms at all.

" The results of the study suggest that nearly half of all people who suffer from GERD experience sleep problems, which can impact their work and personal lives. GERD also can be related to other health conditions, including depression and anxiety," said Harley Liker, of David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Up to 20 percent of adults report that they have symptoms of GERD at least once a week.
Even among those who do not experience symptoms, GERD can still impact their sleep.

The survey questioned 1306 people with GERD in Europe ( Germany, France, UK ) and 602 in the US.
Nearly half were undiagnosed. It addressed the disease, lifestyle and choice of treatment through face-to-face interviews and a 100-item questionnaire.

Participants with GERD were identified from a random telephone screening of more than 200,000 households.
Out of the 1908 participants, 984 were formally diagnosed by a physician with GERD, acid reflux, or heartburn and had received prescription medication for the condition at some time and 924 were undiagnosed — had heartburn/acid reflux more than two times in the week prior to being surveyed, but had not consulted with a doctor.

The survey showed that among the 1523 participants who reported experiencing symptoms in the previous seven days, 55 percent of patients diagnosed with GERD and 45 percent of undiagnosed patients reported being awakened by GERD symptoms.

Among participants who did not experience problems sleeping, GERD symptoms were responsible for 14 percent impairment in non-work activities.
Productivity declined by 10 percent among working participants ( n=1111 ).

Source: Digestive Disease Week (DDW), 2005


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