Approach to managing gastro-oesophageal reflux in adults

Management of gastro-oesophageal reflux in adults depends on the severity of symptoms and endoscopic findings, if known:

• mild intermittent symptoms require only diet and lifestyle modification or on-demand drug therapy
• frequent or severe symptomsthat significantly impair quality of life require regular drug therapy or surgical intervention
• if endoscopic findings are known, therapy depends on severity of both mucosal disease and symptoms.

For most patients, the aim of therapy is to control symptoms. For the small group of patients with ulcerative or complicated disease, therapy also aims to prevent and treat complications.