Influence of common cardiac drugs on gastroesophageal reflux disease: Multicenter questionnaire survey

Background: Although gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes noncardiac chest pain mimicking angina peetons, systemic studies surveying the effects of common cardiac drugs on symptomatic GERD are rare. Methods: To investigate the drug- related GER.1), this multicenter trial enrolled 201 consecutive cardiac outpatients (69.7 ±10.5 y) after obtaining written infomied consent. They were assessed using the Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD (F-scale) to screen for GERD with a cut-off value of 8.0. Clinical background was obtained from medical records. Gastric medicine was empirically administered at the discretion of the attending physician. F-scale score and incidence of GERI) were analyzed individually in relation to background and prescription. Results: The avenge F-scale score did not correlate with gender, age or underlying diseases. F-scale score was elevated significantly (p - 0.006) by administration of calcium channel blockers to the patients treated with gastric medicine, suggesting that calcium channel blockers exacerbate the possibly preexisting GERD. Incidence of GERD within 2 months after starting warfarin tended to be greater than that at other durations (p = 0.087). Patients showing a high score (≥ 8.0) suggestive of GERD showed a correlation with the combined administration of calcium channel blockers (OR 3.19; 95% CI of 1.01 - 10.11; p = 0.049) and warfarin (OR = 3.05; 95% CI of 1.00- 9.27; p = 0.049) in the best logistic model. Conclusion: Although larger cohort is required, this survey demonstrates that the combination of calcium channel blockers and warfarin is an independent risk factor for GERD.