Objective: The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was randomly investigated among Dutch and Belgian intellectually disabled individuals.
Methods: In six institutes including 1607 residents, 435 persons with IQ <50 underwent 24-h esophageal pH-metry and were scored for possible predisposing factors and characteristic reflux symptoms. In 49 (11.2%) cases the test failed because of technical reasons. A pathological pH test was defined as a pH <4 for >4.5% of the measured time. Subjects with a pathological pH test (patients) were compared with those with a normal pH test (controls).
Results: Of the remaining individuals, 51.8% (200/386) showed a normal pH test, whereas 186 showed a pathological pH test (median duration pH <4: 14.2%, range: 4.5-78.4%). As possible predisposing factors scoliosis, cerebral palsy, use of anticonvulsant drugs or other benzodiazepines, and IQ <35 were found, whereas symptoms such as vomiting, hematemesis, rumination, and depressive symptoms were indicative for reflux. At endoscopy reflux esophagitis was diagnosed in 129 of the 186 patients (69.4%). In 61 (47.3%) of 129 patients, grade I, 43 (33.3%) grade II, 25 (19.4%) grade III/IV (Savary-Miller) were found. Barrett's esophagus was found in 18 (14.0%) and peptic strictures in five (3.9%) cases.
Conclusions: An abnormal 24-h pH-metry and symptoms suggestive for GERD were documented frequently in a large cohort of institutionalized intellectually disabled individuals. Further endoscopical evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis in the majority of these individuals.