Clinical and Diagnostic Evaluation of GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects approximately 20% of the population in the United States, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. Typical symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia. However, patients often present with atypical symptoms such as chronic cough, laryngitis, or even asthma. Therefore, the evaluation of patients with suspected GERD should include not only a thorough clinical examination but also multiple diagnostic tests in order to detect anatomical abnormalities, obtain objective evidence of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux, and rule out other diseases that might account for the patients’ symptoms.