The correlation between gastroesophageal reflux disease and ischemic heart disease

Abstract

Background. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and ischemic heart disease have been characterized by similar clinical manifestations, especially retrosternal pain. This confusion could lead to a delay in appropriate therapy and a negative impact on the patient's prognosis, especially in cardiac patients. Objective(s). It was proposed to investigate pathologies that influenced each other in a way that complicated the clinical picture, masking ischemic manifestations and delaying the identification of the main cause. Materials and methods. A rigorous analysis of the scientific literature relevant to the study of GERD and IHD was performed. Articles from specialized journals were reviewed and experimental results were analyzed from online databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, etc. Analytical, comparative and clinical-medical methods were applied. Results. Endothelial dysfunction in patients with GERD was correlated with changes in the intima-media complex, which accelerates coronary atherosclerotic processes. Studies have indicated a prevalence of up to 40% of GERD symptoms in patients with IBD. In 2018, a patient with GERD presented with heartburn and periodic regurgitation, and subsequently retrosternal pain and anxiety, signs that suspected myocardial ischemia. Initial investigations did not reveal acute changes, but Holter ECG monitoring and esophageal pHmetry correlated acidification with arrhythmias, confirming the diagnosis of chronic ischemic cardiopathy associated with severe GERD. Conclusion(s). The correlation between GERD and IBD required clinical vigilance, as symptomatic overlap and pathophysiological interactions could delay diagnosis. Endothelial dysfunction associated with GERD was considered a factor accelerating atherogenesis, negatively influencing cardiac prognosis.