Overview of management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in adults

Adults with symptoms that are frequent (2 or more episodes per week), severe enough to significantly impair quality of life or who have complications of gastro-oesophageal reflux are considered to have gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Patients with GORD often need regular drug therapy in addition to diet and lifestyle modification.

Most patients with GORD have typical symptoms (heartburn or regurgitation) and do not require upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnosis—in these patients, the aim of management is to control symptoms (see Initial therapy for GORD in adults). For patients who require endoscopy (see Indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in patients with symptoms suspected to be due to gastro-oesophageal reflux for indications), therapy is guided by the endoscopic findings as well as the severity of symptoms—see Management of gastro-oesophageal reflux in adults when endoscopic findings are known.