Real world clinical practice patterns in nocturnal GERD management: insights from nationwide RELIEF survey.
10 affiliations
- 1Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Narayana Health, Kolkata, India. [email protected].
- 2Consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist, Gastro Care Clinic, Chennai, India.
- 3Consultant Gastroenterologist, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Centre, Dhantoli, Nagpur, India.
- 4Consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, India.
- 5Department of Medicine, M.Y. Hospital, Indore, India.
- 6Senior Consultant and Head, Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Chennai, India.
- 7Consultant Gastroenterologist, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, India.
- 8Consultant Hepatologist and Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
- 9Fellow in Advanced GI Endoscopy, Narayana Health, Kolkata, India.
- 10Cipla Ltd, Mumbai, India.
Abstract
Background and objectives
Nocturnal symptoms of GERD interfere with daytime functioning, work, and social activities, thereby negatively affecting health-related quality of life. Therefore, the present survey aimed to evaluate the clinical practice patterns regarding the management of nocturnal GERD in India.Methods
A digital questionnaire-based nationwide RELIEF survey was conducted among health care practitioners (HCPs) with gastroenterology practice across India. Physicians voluntarily responded to the survey questionnaire consisting of 24 questions based on their clinical experience. Following the collection of completed questionnaires, data were reviewed and analyzed.Results
Of the 500 HCPs who were approached, 498 completed the study. GERD contributed to > 30% of patient burden every month. According to 25.30% of HCPs, 21-30% of patients with GERD complain of nocturnal symptoms. The most common risk factors in patients with nocturnal GERD were late-night meals (67.67%), followed by smoking (51%), BMI > 25 kg/m² (50.20%), and a high-fat diet (50.40%). Most HCPs (83%) relied on symptoms and medical history to diagnose nocturnal GERD. A single-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) regimen was the most preferred treatment, reported by 31.53% of HCPs, with esomeprazole preferred by 54% of physicians. Efficacy (58.03%), minimum or no drug-drug interactions (29.92%), and cost (22.49%) are the important aspects for choosing a PPI. HCPs (63.18%) opted for 4-8 weeks of PPI therapy to achieve resolution of nocturnal GERD symptoms, followed by 3-6 months of maintenance therapy (57.95%). Common causes of non-adherence to PPIs, as reported by 80.72% of HCPs, were stopping treatment once symptoms improved (53.01%), cost (39.56%), and incomplete disease awareness (29.92%). Most of the HCPs (42.77%) reported no side effects with the use of PPIs.Conclusion
The survey highlighted key insights into managing nocturnal GERD in India, with nearly one-fourth of GERD patients reporting nocturnal symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation, emphasizing the need for lifestyle modifications and suitable pharmacological interventions. The management strategy primarily includes PPI therapy, with esomeprazole being the preferred choice for nocturnal GERD.
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BibTeX
@article{pal2026real,
title = {{Real world clinical practice patterns in nocturnal GERD management: insights from nationwide RELIEF survey.}},
author = {Sandip Pal and G Manoharan and Prashant Bhandarkar and P Manohar Reddy and Atul Shende and R S Arun and Balaji Laxminarayana Shetty B and Saptarshi Bishnu and Sanjeeb Roy and Sucheta Mehta and Namita Ghag and Apurva Jawdekar and Aniket Vaidya},
journal = {BMC gastroenterology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12876-026-05084-x},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897481},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Real world clinical practice patterns in nocturnal GERD management: insights from nationwide RELIEF survey.
AU - Sandip Pal
AU - G Manoharan
AU - Prashant Bhandarkar
AU - P Manohar Reddy
AU - Atul Shende
AU - R S Arun
AU - Balaji Laxminarayana Shetty B
AU - Saptarshi Bishnu
AU - Sanjeeb Roy
AU - Sucheta Mehta
AU - Namita Ghag
AU - Apurva Jawdekar
AU - Aniket Vaidya
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC gastroenterology
DO - 10.1186/s12876-026-05084-x
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897481
AB - Background and objectives Nocturnal symptoms of GERD interfere with daytime functioning, work, and social activities, thereby negatively affecting health-related quality of life. Therefore, the present survey aimed to evaluate the clinical practice patterns regarding the management of nocturnal GERD in India.Methods A digital questionnaire-based nationwide RELIEF survey was conducted among health care practitioners (HCPs) with gastroenterology practice across India. Physicians voluntarily responded to the survey questionnaire consisting of 24 questions based on their clinical experience. Following the collection of completed questionnaires, data were reviewed and analyzed.Results Of the 500 HCPs who were approached, 498 completed the study. GERD contributed to > 30% of patient burden every month. According to 25.30% of HCPs, 21-30% of patients with GERD complain of nocturnal symptoms. The most common risk factors in patients with nocturnal GERD were late-night meals (67.67%), followed by smoking (51%), BMI > 25 kg/m² (50.20%), and a high-fat diet (50.40%). Most HCPs (83%) relied on symptoms and medical history to diagnose nocturnal GERD. A single-dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) regimen was the most preferred treatment, reported by 31.53% of HCPs, with esomeprazole preferred by 54% of physicians. Efficacy (58.03%), minimum or no drug-drug interactions (29.92%), and cost (22.49%) are the important aspects for choosing a PPI. HCPs (63.18%) opted for 4-8 weeks of PPI therapy to achieve resolution of nocturnal GERD symptoms, followed by 3-6 months of maintenance therapy (57.95%). Common causes of non-adherence to PPIs, as reported by 80.72% of HCPs, were stopping treatment once symptoms improved (53.01%), cost (39.56%), and incomplete disease awareness (29.92%). Most of the HCPs (42.77%) reported no side effects with the use of PPIs.Conclusion The survey highlighted key insights into managing nocturnal GERD in India, with nearly one-fourth of GERD patients reporting nocturnal symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation, emphasizing the need for lifestyle modifications and suitable pharmacological interventions. The management strategy primarily includes PPI therapy, with esomeprazole being the preferred choice for nocturnal GERD.
SN - 1471-230X
ER -