Impact of Comorbid Irritable Bowel Syndrome on Treatment Outcome in Non-Erosive Reflux Disease on Long-Term Proton Pump Inhibitor in Japan

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently coexists with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). Efficacy of long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment on NERD with or without IBS is controversial. The impact of comorbid IBS in NERD on quality of life (QOL) remains uncertain. We verified the hypothesis that NERD patients with IBS symptoms demonstrated poor responses to long-term PPI treatments, deteriorated QOL, and high frequency of psychological deviations in Japan. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In all, 141 NERD patients who had been taking PPIs for more than 6 months were enrolled and analyzed. Patient profiles were assessed by GerdQ, IBS Severity Index (IBSSI-J)/Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS)/SF-8, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). <b><i>Results:</i></b> IBS existed in 37 out of 141 NERD patients. Patients with IBS (the positive-IBS group) demonstrated significantly higher frequencies of extant reflux symptoms than those without IBS (64.9 vs. 40.4%). In the positive-IBS group, 40.5% were classified as middle grade by IBSSI-J. The SF-8 and GSRS scores in this group were significantly lower than those without IBS (the negative-IBS group). Prevalence of depression and anxiety by HADS in the positive-IBS group was significantly higher than that in the negative-IBS group. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> These results proved the hypothesis that considering comorbid IBS among NERD patients on long-term PPI seems recommended in Japan.