Natural history, pathophysiology and evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diseases encountered by both internists and gastroenterologists. GERD can cause a wide variety of symptoms ranging from heartburn and regurgitation to more atypical symptoms such as cough, chest pain, and hoarseness. The diagnosis is often times made on the basis of history and clinical symptomatology. The prevalence of GERD is currently estimated to be 8–33% with the incidence of disease only expected to increase over time. Although most cases of GERD can be diagnosed based on symptoms and clinical presentation, the diagnosis of GERD can be challenging when symptoms are atypical. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, evaluation and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease.