Estephan and colleagues conducted a study to determine patient-reported quality of life with regard to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in patients subjected to upper airway surgery for comorbid obstructive sleep apnea.

This was a prospective survey-based study which included patients with GERD and comorbid obstructive sleep apnea who underwent surgery between July 2020 and December 2020. Patients completed the GERD-Health Related Quality of Life Questionnaire one week prior to surgery and at 6 months after the surgery. Disease-related symptoms were rated from 0 to 5 (no symptoms to incapacitating symptoms). Investigators obtained patient survey scores, demographics, medications, and sleep study parameters for the analysis. Twenty-two patients completed the preoperative and postoperative questionnaires.

• There was a significant reduction in median baseline survey scores vs. 6-month scores for symptoms including heartburn in general (3.0 vs. 2.0, p = 0.006), while lying down (2.5 vs. 1.5, p = 0.046), while standing (2.0 vs. 1.0, p = 0.003), after meals (2.0 vs. 2.0, p = 0.042), and cumulative score (15.5 vs. 11.0, p = 0.029).
• There was no change in heartburn altering diet or sleep, odynophagia, dysphagia, as well as medication burden, after the surgery (p > 0.05).
• A larger proportion of patients was satisfied with their postoperative condition compared to baseline (40.9% vs. 18.2%, p = 0.18).

Undergoing upper airway surgery for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea may positively affect patient-reported symptoms of GERD.

More investigation should be done to determine the role of surgery in this setting for improvement of quality of life and true disease severity.

Source: Estephan LE, Alnemri A, Stewart M, et al. Reduced gastroesophageal reflux disease symptom severity following upper airway surgery for comorbid obstructive sleep apnea. Am J Otolaryngol. 2021 Dec 16;43(2):103340.