Retrospective analysis of the frequency and characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children for 20 years

Background. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic relapsing disease of the upper digestive tract, the frequency of which has been increasing in the world in recent decades, both in adults and children and adolescents. The purpose of our study was to retrospectively determine the frequency, duration and the dynamics of age, gender, clinical and anamnestic and endoscopic features of GERD in children from 1999 to 2019. ­Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted of the data of 6,785 archival inpatient charts on the basis of the gastroenterological departments of the Children’s Clinical Hospital 9 of Kyiv for 1999, 2009 and 2019. Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out by generally accepted methods of statistics. Results. Compared to 1999, in 2009 and 2019, the frequency of detecting GERD increased by 2.9 and 5.5 times, reflux esophagitis and its severity — by 1.7 and 2.3 times, erosive and ulcerative lesions of the gastric mucosa — by 1.6 and 2 times and of the duodenal mucosa — by 2 and 2.3 times against the background of increasing disease duration in 2019. GERD is diagnosed mainly in children over 10 years of age (83.2, 86.0 and 93.2 %), especially in adolescents (56.7, 62.0 and 74.4 %). In 1999, it was more frequent in boys (68.4 %), and in 2009 and 2019, there was no reliable gender diffe­rence. According to the distribution by years, the same trends were found regarding the history (every fifth patient had birth hypoxia/asphyxia, obesity and recurrent herpes, every fourth — a history of GERD and head/spine injuries, every third — perinatal lesions of the central nervous system, frequent regurgitations during the first year of life and helminthiasis/parasitiс disease) and clinical manifestations of GERD (85.0, 82.7 and 81.2 % of patients had its esophageal symptoms (pain behind the sternum/in the epigastrium and nausea — in 2/3, heartburn and acid reflux — in every second patient), and extraesophageal manifestations such as multiple ca­ries and dental erosions and halitosis). Conclusions. A retrospective analysis of data on the frequency, duration, and characteristics of GERD in children for 20 years revealed negative trends regarding an increase in frequency and more severe course, which requires further studying the dynamics of these indicators for early detection, timely treatment of the disease, and prevention of its complications.