Determining the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that significantly impacts quality of life. GERD is known to be accompanied by numerous additional symptoms and conditions related to the cardiac, respiratory, and upper gastrointestinal systems. One of these accompanying conditions is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), which disrupts sleep quality and can lead to serious cardiorespiratory consequences. While the literature suggests a reciprocal interaction and increased risk between GERD and OSAS, the distribution of this relationship in the general population is still under investigation. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the level of OSAS risk in individuals with GERD, to reveal the relationship between the two conditions, and to evaluate the need for early clinical screening. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 421 individuals aged 18–65 years who presented to a healthcare facility. The GERD-Q questionnaire was used to determine the risk of GERD, and the Berlin Questionnaire was used to assess the risk of OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics; categorical variables were presented as numbers and percentages, and numerical variables as mean ± standard deviation. Appropriate parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used to determine differences between groups, with a significance level of p<0.05. Of the 431 cases included in our study, 59.2% (n=255) were women, and the mean age of all cases was 41.0±11.9 years. According to the scores and definitions calculated according to the GERD-Q scale, 68.7% (n=296) of the cases had a low probability of reflux, and 31.3% (n=135) had a high probability of reflux. According to the Berlin questionnaire, 29.0% (n=125) of the cases were defined as high-risk obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The rate of high-risk obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was found to be higher in cases with a high risk of GERD (41.5%) compared to cases with a low risk of GERD (23.3%). This difference was found to be statistically significant (𝜒2(1)=14.867, p<0.01). In conclusion, it has been shown that the risk of OSA is significantly increased in individuals at high risk of GERD, and a clinically significant relationship exists between the two conditions. Accordingly, screening for OSA in individuals presenting to healthcare facilities with GERD symptoms is considered important for early diagnosis of the disease, prevention of complications, and optimization of the treatment process.