GER symptoms have been linked to worse health-related quality of life (QOL) in children, however it is unclear if reflux load on objective diagnostic tests, such as 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance with pH (pH-MII), is linked to lower QOL in children. The goal of this study was to find predictors of QOL impairment based on the findings of esophageal reflux tests. The study collected validated questionnaires from children undergoing pH-MII and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for evaluation of suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease in this prospective, cross-sectional study to determine the relationship between objective measures of GER, patient-reported symptoms, and QOL outcomes. An aberrant pH-MII study was found in 38% of the 82 patients. There were no significant variations in QOL ratings between patients with normal and abnormal pH-MII studies on any questionnaire. Individual pH-MII parameters and QOL ratings have no connection. On EGD, those with gross esophagitis had substantially worse QOL, with lower overall PedsQL and GI PedsQL scores. There was no correlation between microscopic esophagitis and variations in QOL ratings.
There was no link found between pH-MII anomalies and lower QOL in children. These findings emphasise the significance of evaluating illnesses other than GERD since they may be important causes of QOL impairment.
