Preterm infants represent a population at high risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) development. To measure the frequency of GERD in former premature infants and to compare it with that of a general population of pediatric patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of GERD, in order to find an association between premature birth and risk of GERD. The study group consisted of 19 former premature patients who were referred to the physician and hospitalized for symptoms suggestive of GERD. The control group consisted of 24 patients with no history of prematurity and suspected of GERD, selected according to the order of hospital admission. All patients underwent a 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance combined with pH monitoring. Pathologic GER was more frequent in the study group (63,16%) than in the control group (62,5%). Prematurity didn’t increase the risk of GERD development (OR 1,02; CI 95% 0,2-3,5). The comparison between children categories revealed a slightly higher GERD frequency in former premature children (63,64%) compared to control children (61,54%). Also in this case, there was not a significant association between preterm birth and GERD development in children (OR 1,03; CI 95% 0,28-3,37). GERD was more common in control infants (63,6%) than in former premature infants (62,5%). There was a negative association between prematurity and GERD in this category of patients (OR 0,9; CI 95% 0,22-4,25). Our findings do not demonstrate a significant association between prematurity and GERD development during infancy and childhood. The topic warrants further investigation by future research.
 

Download Full Text - PDF