The influence of concomitant IBS on GORD symptoms and severity (v1.0).
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the influence of concomitant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) on Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD), including GORD-related symptoms, GORD severity, oesophageal motility, and multi-channel intraluminal impedance-pH findings.
IRAS ID
344012
Contact name
Ella Moore
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 29 days
Research summary
This research aims to investigate a potential link between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and acid reflux, particularly whether there is a difference in reflux symptoms between people with and without IBS.
IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, which has the same root cause as other functional gastrointestinal disorders that produce symptoms similar to acid reflux. Acid reflux symptoms may be typical (heartburn, regurgitation) or atypical (cough, sore throat).
Participants are given two questionnaires: one to categorise them as IBS or non-IBS, and one to understand their reflux symptoms. From this, the project will investigate whether there is a difference in the type (typical/atypical) and severity of reflux symptoms between people with and without IBS that attend for planned diagnostic reflux testing at Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Two factors determine how much reflux someone has: the ability of the oesophagus (food-pipe) to move food from the throat to the stomach, and how well the muscle between the oesophagus and stomach works to keep contents from moving back up.
Participants will have a test to see how well the muscles in their oesophagus are working. As there may be a link between IBS and oesophageal function, this project will investigate whether any patterns of abnormal oesophageal function can be identified in IBS patients that might explain their reflux symptoms. Participants will also have a test that measures reflux over 24 hours and whether symptoms are linked to these events. Participants would be having these two tests regardless of the study as part of their referral to our department. The only change by taking part in this study is by completing the questionnaire.
Analysing these test results against questionnaire answers might help to understand the link between IBS and reflux to improve future diagnosis and treatment for the many people that have these conditions.REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NE/0152
Date of REC Opinion
9 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion