The utility of the RSS-12 questionnaire in assessing the symptoms of gastroesophagical reflux disease

Abstract

Background. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has a global prevalence between 10- 30%. The RSS-12 questionnaire (Reflux Symptom Score – 12 items) has a sensitivity of 85- 90% and specificity of 80-85% for assessing the severity of symptoms of this disease, being a reliable tool for diagnosis and monitoring. Objective(s). Assessment of the severity and frequency of symptoms in patients with GERD using the RSS-12 questionnaire and analysis of correlations between symptom severity and patient gender. Materials and methods. The study included 51 GERD patients (36 women–70.6% and 15 men–29.4%) aged between 51 and 76 years, recruited at the Department of Internal Medicine-Semiology during the period 01-05.2025. Evaluation was performed using the RSS-12 questionnaire to quantify symptom severity. Demographic data were collected to analyze correlations. Results. According to the RSS-12 questionnaire, 39 patients (76.5%) had severe reflux, 6 (11.8%) mild-moderate, and 6 (11.8%) reflux unlikely. The most frequent symptoms were acid regurgitation (88.2%), need to clear the throat (74.5%), dry cough (66.7%), and retrosternal burning (64.7%). Less common symptoms included difficulty breathing (19.6%), sleep disturbances (17.6%), and hoarseness (11.8%). No significant differences were found between the sexes regarding the presence of GERD (p=0.912) or the severity of the disease (p=0.239-0.701). These results indicate a balanced distribution of GERD severity between women and men in the studied group. Conclusion(s). The RSS-12 is a practical, noninvasive, and effective tool for identifying GERD, especially those with atypical manifestations. Integrating the RSS-12 into clinical practice may facilitate early diagnosis, treatment adjustment, and allow monitoring of therapeutic response.