Impacto de las medidas generales en el tratamiento del reflujo gastroesofágico: Una revisión basada en la evidencia

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very prevalent disease among adults that alters the quality of life. Many treatments have been investigated, some of which require changes in lifestyle related to associated risk factors. Although changes in lifestyle are recommended, the evidence that supports these recommendations is controversial and scarce. Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the impact of lifestyle changes on patients with GERD. Methodology: A systematic search of the literature in PubMed, Science Direct and Embase was conducted using the following keywords: gastroesophagueal (sic) reflux, heartburn, bed head elevation, Carbonated Beverages, mint, cocoa, citrus, Drinking Alcohol, caffeine, coffee, late-evening meal, spicy food, fatty foods, obesity, weight loss, exercise and Smoking Cessation. Controlled clinical trials and prospective cohort studies that studied lifestyle changes and their effects on GERD were included in the study. Results: Of the 2,731 articles found, fifteen were included in our analysis. There is little evidence that suspending consumption of food or drink items such as peppermint, chocolate, citrus, carbonated beverages, fatty foods and spicy foods clinically improves GERD. Decaffeinated coffee may decrease the amount of reflux, and quitting smoking is associated with improvement in symptoms. Meal times at night can change some parameters of pH monitoring but did not alter symptoms. Some exercises, mainly respiratory, may improve symptoms. There is evidence that elevating the head while in the bed and weight loss (in cases of overweight or obese patients) improve symptoms, but there is also evidence against these methods and studies of them have methodological limitations. Conclusion: Adequate evidence does not exist that changes in lifestyle improve GERD symptoms. Most studies are uncontrolled clinical trials or observational studies. Additional clinical trials with better quality are needed to define the impact of these measures on GERD.