Long-term management of patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease -: a Norwegian randomised prospective study comparing the effects of esomeprazole and ranitidine treatment strategies on health-related quality of life in a general practitioners setting

This article reports quality of life (QoL) aspects of a study that investigated the efficacy of three treatment regimens in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease patients. Following a 4-week symptom-control phase (esomeprazole 40 mg once daily), patients were randomised to 6 months' esomeprazole 20 mg once daily continuously (n = 658), on-demand (n = 634) or ranitidine 150 mg twice daily continuously (n = 610). Esomeprazole 40 mg once daily improved QoL during the symptom-control phase. At 6 months, both esomeprazole regimens were more effective than ranitidine in all dimensions of the Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire (p < 0.0001). Esomeprazole continuous and on-demand led to a significant improvement in symptoms (Overall Treatment Evaluation questionnaire) compared with ranitidine (continuous: 80.2%, on-demand: 77.8%, vs. ranitidine 47.0%; p < 0.001). Esomeprazole once daily continuously maintained QoL better than esomeprazole on-demand and was associated with greater patient satisfaction. In conclusion, esomeprazole 20 mg once daily continuously and on-demand were more effective than ranitidine continuously for maintaining QoL.