Economic Impact Of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Revealed

Main Category: Acid Reflux / GERD
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 10 Jul 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has a substantial economic impact on society due to its effect on productivity while at work, according to the results of a new systematic review published today in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.[1]

The review, which analysed data reported by patients from eight studies involving more than 7,000 people across seven countries, suggests that the average loss in productivity while at work in a general working population with reflux disease could be as great as 10 per cent.1

Reduced productivity at work increased with reflux symptom severity, and sleep disturbance due to reflux symptoms caused work productivity losses as high as 40 per cent.1

As an example, using these findings for the US, this translates into a total cost to US employers of up to $75 billion per year.1 In comparison, the direct yearly costs for treating reflux disease in the US via healthcare services and medication are estimated at $9.3 billion.1

Dr Alan Barkun, Director of the Division of Gastroenterology at McGill University and McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada, said that these results have important implications for the way in which reflux disease treatment should be viewed. "The strong association between reduced work productivity and total symptom burden suggests that by relieving reflux symptoms patients may be able to perform better at work."

In addition the data also highlights that by initiating effective therapy, the costs may be offset by improvements in work productivity following treatment1.

The patient-reported results in this review are supported by data from a case-control study using objective assessments of work productivity that was recently presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week conference, Los Angeles, USA.[2] The study involved more than 27,000 employees with or without reflux disease, and results confirm that there truly is a link between reflux disease and reduced productivity at work - also when measuring productivity in terms of number of units processed per hour and per year.

The reduction in work productivity as a result of reflux disease is similar to that of people with other chronic and troublesome diseases, such as arthritis and back pain.1

Reflux disease - also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) - is a chronic disease that causes significant impairment to sufferer's health related quality of life.[3] In addition to its impact on work productivity, people with GERD experience physical, social and emotional problems as a result of the pain, worry and sleep disturbance caused by their condition.3,[4]

References:
[1]. Wahlqvist P et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2006; 25
[2]. Wahlqvist P et al. Abstract S1124. DDW 2006 (Los Angeles, USA. 20-25 May)
[3]. Wiklund, I. Dig Dis 2004; 22: 108-14
[4]. Liker et al. J Am Board Fam Pract 2005; 18: 393-400
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