Reviewer's report
Title:Factors influencing treatment outcome in patients with gastroesophageal
reflux disease: outcome of a prospective pragmatic trial in Asian patients
Version:2Date:25 February 2014
Reviewer: Stanislas Bruley des Varannes
Reviewer's report:
Factors influencing treatment outcome in patients with gastroesophageal reflux
disease : outcome of a prospective pragmatic trial in Asian patients?
Submitted to BMC Gastroenterology (February 2014)
This study shows that in Asian GERD patients treated in clinical practice control
of symptoms appears lower that in western populations. Results show that
therapeutic response is associated with ERD and lower Request –GI score.
This paper is interesting mainly for the conditions of study that are everyday
practice. This is indeed a pragmatic study with patients considered as having a
diagnosis of GERD according to the opinion of investigating physician. The study
was well conducted and used validated tools such as Request Questionnaire
(short version). Analysis is appropriate and results appear reliable. Consequently
conclusions are of interest.
Several results are consistent with those of previous studies especially for ERD
vs NERD. In fact I am not convinced that treatment outcome is really different
between asian and western populations as these studies were not conducted in
similar conditions. In addition and as indicated by authors, reporting reflux
symptoms may be influenced by ethnic conditions. These aspects could be a
little more discussed to make the reader more informed on the overall differences
between Asian and Western populations.
Minor remarks
1 - BMI falls short of statistical significance (0.08) suggesting that there is a
possible effect of BMI on treatment outcome (beta risk). That would need an
additional comment as in some western studies a low BMI has been found to be
associated with a lower response (Zerbib F, Simon M, Belhocine K, Capdepont
M, Mion F, Bruley des Varannes S, Galmiche JP. Clinical, but not oesophageal
pH-impedance profiles, predict response to proton pump inhibitors in
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Gut 2012;61:501-6).
2 - Table 1 – Is duration of GERD symptoms available for these patients ? This
factor could be interesting to analyze.
3 - Legends of figures : They could be improved and more detailed and
informative
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Reviewer's report
Title:Factors influencing treatment outcome in patients with gastroesophageal
reflux disease: outcome of a prospective pragmatic trial in Asian patients
Version:2Date:25 February 2014
Reviewer: Stanislas Bruley des Varannes
Reviewer's report:
Factors influencing treatment outcome in patients with gastroesophageal reflux
disease : outcome of a prospective pragmatic trial in Asian patients?
Submitted to BMC Gastroenterology (February 2014)
This study shows that in Asian GERD patients treated in clinical practice control
of symptoms appears lower that in western populations. Results show that
therapeutic response is associated with ERD and lower Request –GI score.
This paper is interesting mainly for the conditions of study that are everyday
practice. This is indeed a pragmatic study with patients considered as having a
diagnosis of GERD according to the opinion of investigating physician. The study
was well conducted and used validated tools such as Request Questionnaire
(short version). Analysis is appropriate and results appear reliable. Consequently
conclusions are of interest.
Several results are consistent with those of previous studies especially for ERD
vs NERD. In fact I am not convinced that treatment outcome is really different
between asian and western populations as these studies were not conducted in
similar conditions. In addition and as indicated by authors, reporting reflux
symptoms may be influenced by ethnic conditions. These aspects could be a
little more discussed to make the reader more informed on the overall differences
between Asian and Western populations.
Minor remarks
1 - BMI falls short of statistical significance (0.08) suggesting that there is a
possible effect of BMI on treatment outcome (beta risk). That would need an
additional comment as in some western studies a low BMI has been found to be
associated with a lower response (Zerbib F, Simon M, Belhocine K, Capdepont
M, Mion F, Bruley des Varannes S, Galmiche JP. Clinical, but not oesophageal
pH-impedance profiles, predict response to proton pump inhibitors in
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Gut 2012;61:501-6).
2 - Table 1 – Is duration of GERD symptoms available for these patients ? This
factor could be interesting to analyze.
3 - Legends of figures : They could be improved and more detailed and
informative
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Factors influencing treatment outcome in patients with gastroesophageal
reflux disease: outcome of a prospective pragmatic trial in Asian patients
Version:2Date:25 February 2014
Reviewer: Stanislas Bruley des Varannes
Reviewer's report:
Factors influencing treatment outcome in patients with gastroesophageal reflux
disease : outcome of a prospective pragmatic trial in Asian patients?
Submitted to BMC Gastroenterology (February 2014)
This study shows that in Asian GERD patients treated in clinical practice control
of symptoms appears lower that in western populations. Results show that
therapeutic response is associated with ERD and lower Request –GI score.
This paper is interesting mainly for the conditions of study that are everyday
practice. This is indeed a pragmatic study with patients considered as having a
diagnosis of GERD according to the opinion of investigating physician. The study
was well conducted and used validated tools such as Request Questionnaire
(short version). Analysis is appropriate and results appear reliable. Consequently
conclusions are of interest.
Several results are consistent with those of previous studies especially for ERD
vs NERD. In fact I am not convinced that treatment outcome is really different
between asian and western populations as these studies were not conducted in
similar conditions. In addition and as indicated by authors, reporting reflux
symptoms may be influenced by ethnic conditions. These aspects could be a
little more discussed to make the reader more informed on the overall differences
between Asian and Western populations.
Minor remarks
1 - BMI falls short of statistical significance (0.08) suggesting that there is a
possible effect of BMI on treatment outcome (beta risk). That would need an
additional comment as in some western studies a low BMI has been found to be
associated with a lower response (Zerbib F, Simon M, Belhocine K, Capdepont
M, Mion F, Bruley des Varannes S, Galmiche JP. Clinical, but not oesophageal
pH-impedance profiles, predict response to proton pump inhibitors in
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Gut 2012;61:501-6).
2 - Table 1 – Is duration of GERD symptoms available for these patients ? This
factor could be interesting to analyze.
3 - Legends of figures : They could be improved and more detailed and
informative
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, but I do not feel adequately qualified to assess the
statistics.
assistant