Overlapping gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome: Increased dysfunctional symptoms

Figure 1 Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) based on their presenting symptoms. The probability of having simultaneous GERD and IBS was significantly higher in patients presenting with either of these functional symptoms; however, nausea and vomiting were more strongly related to the overlap of two diseases.

Figure 2 Sex distribution of functional symptoms in patients with IBS (A), GERD (B), GERD + IBS (C). In all of the groups the prevalence of nausea and vomiting was significantly higher in women than in men. Considering that nausea and vomiting were the most frequent symptoms in overlapping diseases, it is explainable by a high prevalence of overlap in women.

Figure 3 Frequency of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with IBS, GERD, GERD + IBS. The frequency of H. pylori infection was significantly higher in patients with GERD alone compared to patients with GERD + IBS.